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Sports Law Chapter 2: Player Contracts

Professor Hamiton

SBU 343 01

Alexis Cunningham

3 December 2019
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Bottom of the 9th was released on July 19, 2019, by Saban Films. Sonny Stano was a

promising baseball phenom that signed a contract with the Yankees before having a brutal

confrontation with a local gang. During the encounter, Sonny unintentionally murdered a man

and was convicted to jail for seventeen years. After his release, Sonny began working at a fish

market then found a job opportunity through his previous minor league baseball coach. His

former coach hired Sonny to manage a trouble maker on his team named Manny to straighten up

Manny’s behavior; during the process, Sonny became a member of the minor league team where

he is confronted by angry fans. After joining the team, Sonny began hitting home runs gaining

the Yankees coaching staff's attention and bringing strength, improving the minor league status

and skills of his teammates. Once Sonny resumed his baseball career, he began to get his life

back on track and winning back the love of his life.

Manny Mitchell was in the batter's box waiting for Roger Peterson to throw the ball for

him to hit; Peterson decided to intentionally hit Manny's head with a baseball. Later on, during a

baseball game in front of hundreds of fans, Peterson attempted to hit Manny on the head again,

deliberately, then Peterson nailed Manny on the upper back the second time, also on purpose.

During the same game, Peterson targeted Sonny's head as well; luckily, Manny avoided the pitch

before contact could be made. Evidence presented demonstrates Peterson's intentions that

occurred: at 49:22 Peterson hit Manny on the head during practice, 1:40:50 Peterson attempts to

hit Manny on the head again but Manny dodges the pitch then the second pitch hits Manny’s

upper back at a baseball game, and finally, Peterson makes an effort to hit Sonny on the head at

1:45:00 before he ducked. Roger Peterson would be considered to be a vicarious liability,

reckless misconduct, and negligent.

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Vicarious liability is where the coach would be held accountable for his/her player's

actions; players are employed by the team, therefore the athlete is considered an employee.

Reckless misconduct is where an athlete deliberately attempted to bring harm to fellow athletes

despite the risk of injuries that may occur due to his actions. Finally, negligence happens when

an athlete disregards the endangerment he/she will be putting the athlete in, property, or

reputation. If an athlete is negligent, this means he/she has also had a duty, breach of duty,

damage/harm, and proximate cause. Breach of contract is where an athlete could not fulfill their

duties as guaranteed within the contract; punishments will depend on the breach that occurred.

Damages that occurred to an athlete or their economic pain and suffering that is needed to fulfill

their contracts.

Roger Peterson has violated his contract by purposely throwing a pitch directly at Manny

and Sonny, knowing an injury could occur. At practice, Peterson nailed Manny directly on the

head; the only protection he had between himself and the ball was his helmet. If the ball would

have missed the helmet and hit his face, then Manny would have suffered a severe concussion or

possibly death. Knowing these circumstances, Peterson still had intentions of hitting both Manny

and Sonny on the head. Luckily, Manny had a helmet on; the ball hit him on the side of the head

and not the face. If the ball would have hit Manny on the face, then he would have suffered some

serious injuries, but Manny did get nailed by a direct hit on his upper back. Roger Peterson

breached his contract by intentionally causing harm to Manny, along with an attempt to hit both

Sonny and Manny on the head. With Peterson causing intentional harm towards his teammates

and opposing teams, this would make him a liability, specifically a vicarious liability. Peterson

would be a vicarious liability because his coaches would be held accountable for his decisions,

and the outcomes that happen after that decision was made. Roger Peterson originally played for
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the Empires when his contract was waived then traded Peterson to the Tracers. The Empires felt

Peterson was too much of a liability and did not feel he was worth the risk to keep around,

Peterson had a lot of heat that was uncontrollable; that is why he is a high liability risk. As

punishment Peterson was removed from the Empire’s roster due to the intent of hurting his

teammates and other players during the game; this also brings yet another issue of reckless

misconduct where Peterson is deliberately trying to cause harm to other athletes during baseball

games and practices. Peterson was negligent with his actions and has shown himself to be a

threat to other athletes due to his lack of control with his attitude.

As a judge, I would declare Roger Peterson guilty of the following: reckless misconduct,

vicarious liability, negligence, damages, and breached his contract. Peterson neglected to

consider the damages he could have caused to other athletes. I agree that Peterson did deserve to

be removed from the Empires' roster, although he should not have been traded/placed on the

Tracers' roster. Since Peterson intentionally pitched the baseball directly towards Sonny and

Manny, then hit Manny on the back and nearly on both of their heads. Peterson is a liability; he

has shown clear intentions to hurt other athletes. If he has attempted hurting Sonny and Manny,

what is going to prevent him from going after other athletes? Nothing, Peterson has already

breached his contract with his baseball league three times, therefore a contract/rules are not

going to stop Peterson from trying again. Under the circumstances, Peterson has lost his

privileges to participate in minor/major league baseball, despite the outcomes of the game he

should have been removed after his second attempt; as the court, our concerns are to keep the

safety of our athletes and spectators priority.