Is a Strike in the Cards for 2027 Major League Baseball?

While baseball fans are excitedly glued to the postseason, a looming shadow hangs over the horizon: could a labor dispute threaten Opening Day in the spring of 2027? Despite record-setting attendance numbers through 2025 and 2026, labor tensions are simmering, and team owners may be poised to declare a lockout to force concessions.

Join Walter Harrison, President Emeritus of the University of Hartford and former chair of the NCAA Board of Governors, for a compelling look behind the scenes of America's pastime. A die-hard baseball fan and sharp institutional observer, Harrison will break down the critical labor-management issues currently on the table that could trigger a work stoppage.

He’ll also place the current climate into historical perspective, looking back at past lockouts and strikes—including the disastrous 1994 walkout—and tracing the roots of player-owner battles all the way back to the 1890 Players League and the 1912 Federal League. Along the way, he'll revisit the pivotal legal battles fought by trailblazers like Curt Flood, Andy Messersmith, and Dave McNally, who challenged the restrictive reserve clause that governed every player contract from 1891 until its abolition in 1976.

Whether you’re a die-hard baseball aficionado or a casual fan who loves a good institutional showdown, you’ll enjoy Harrison’s sharp analysis and engaging storytelling.

·When: Tuesday, October 27, 2-3:30 p.m.

·Host: President’s College Lifelong Learning, University of Hartford

·Registration: Hartford.edu/pc

Questions? Email pcollege@hartford.edu or call 860.768.4495.