Monday 5/10

History

Take a look at this for a second.

Figure it out?  If yes, continue reading.  If not, think just a little bit more.  Take your time. . . . Ok, let’s move on.

I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw this version introduced into the ranks of themed Monopoly boards.  Why, exactly?  Is it because umpires tend to maintain an uncomfortably close distance between them and the catcher?  Nope.  Is it because there’s a picture of a hot dog positioned in the upper left-hand corner, making it look like the umpire is thinking more about lunch than making calls?  No.  It’s because Major League Baseball is a monopoly.  This is essentially a game about trying to gain a monopoly over an organization that is, well, already a monopoly.  Why don’t they just call this one “History”?   

(In another twist of irony, Monopoly was originally owned by three brothers, George, Charles, and Edward (the Parker brothers).  Parker Brothers was eventually bought by General Mills, then Tonka, and ultimately Hasbro. The Monopoly patent brand is now owned by one company, kind of like a monopoly, using the right semantics.) 

So Major League Baseball escapes anti-trust laws in both the real world and in make-believe, board game world.  That’s convenient.  Well, I guess it won’t be long before we see Farm-opoly or Labor Union-opoly.  Oh wait, there is a Farm-opoly.  Figures . . .

By: S. Cole Garrett