The Landis Case

This chapter examines the case of Federal League of Professional Base Ball Clubs v. National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, filed in January 1915 by the Federal League in federal district court in Chicago and presided by Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. The lawsuit named both the American and National Leagues as defendants, along with the sixteen major league franchises, and each of the three members of the National Commission: August Herrmann, Ban Johnson, and John Tener. In its 92-page complaint, the Federal League accused the major leagues of forming an illegal monopoly in violation of federal and state antitrust laws. It also claimed that organized baseball had conspired to injure or destroy the Federal League. This chapter discusses the details of the Federal suit, along with affidavits, each party's legal representation, jurisdictional issues, and public statements regarding the case.