Swot Analysis

SWOT Analysis for Major League Baseball

John Clarke

Devry University

Principles of Management

SWOT Analysis form Major League Baseball

Strengths

The game of baseball came about in the summer of 1839 in Cooperstown, New York, invent by Abner Doubleday. Major League Baseball came about several years after the invention of the game of baseball itself. In the beginning there were three leagues, American Association, Player’s League and the National League, of which the National League held dominance. But in 1900 started the American League breaking up the monopoly that had been held by the National League for many years. Then in 1903 was created and in the fall of 1903 the first World Series was played. Major League Baseball Enterprises, Inc. (the National Baseball Commission) was founded in 1903 and is based in New York, New York. (McCarthy, 2008). This organization holds the rights to the leagues it operate in North America. For an organization this size there is no known mission statement for Major League Enterprises.

One of the strength of baseball is it fan base. Over the years it has remained consistent. In Gallup polls over the years at least 40% of Americans consider themselves baseball fans. Since the 1930s women interest has grown from 27% in the 30s to 37% at the turn of the century. While during the same time period male fans has declined, from high in the 1950s of 57% to 49% at the turn of the century. Even though the demographic of the fan has change they still enjoy the “boys of summer”.

Merchandising is another strong point for the MLB; in 2011 sales were up 10% from the previous year. The numbers are enormous. With the trade of players, a team’s merchandising revenue could just over 100%. Every year player are traded, new players come to the game and some of retiring players becoming instant classics. You would think it would come from jerseys but this revenue come from pennants, balls, bats and don’t forget the bubbleheads.

Weaknesses...