Background

Constitution supersession chain — now visible end-to-end through this entry: true June 2005 update (expires 2006, $5K player fine cap) → post-2005 amendment ~March 2008 (expires 2012, fine 'consistent with CBA') → this through-2018 amendment ~2013 (expires 2018, fine 'consistent with CBA') → current operative version (not public; presumably extends duration further). The court-filing provenance is especially valuable because it places MLB itself in the chain of custody for this version — when MLB attaches the Constitution as a court exhibit, that is functionally a public-record authentication of the document. Olson v. MLB (1:20-cv-00632-JSR) was the consolidated DFS class action brought by DraftKings players alleging that MLB and the Houston Astros (via the Astros' sign-stealing) materially affected DraftKings fantasy outcomes during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Judge Jed S. Rakoff initially dismissed the case in April 2020 for lack of standing; the 2nd Circuit reversed in part in 2022; the case was later settled. The Constitution being filed as Document 29-1 (Exhibit 1) suggests it was attached to one of the early motion-to-dismiss briefs. Doctrinal significance: this is the version operative through both the Astros sign-stealing scandal (2017-2020) and the early COVID-affected seasons (2020-2021). The 'best interests of Baseball' authority under Article II Sec. 2 and 4 is what Commissioner Manfred invoked to issue the September 2020 sign-stealing report and discipline; the Article II Sec. 3 fine caps ($2M Club / $500K individual) are what bounded the formal sanction structure. The Astros' $5M fine and the loss of 1st- and 2nd-round draft picks were structured within (and against the cap of) this Constitution. AP staff uploading court exhibits to DocumentCloud is a recurring sourcing pattern — many of the most-cited MLB legal documents flow through this route.

Key provisions

• Article I — Formation and Duration of Constitution: 'shall remain in effect through December 31, 2018' (an extension from the post-2005 amendment's Dec 31, 2012 expiration). Same proviso re: Article II Sec. 3(g) expiring with the current Commissioner.
• Article II, Sec. 1 — Office of the Commissioner of Baseball: same definition as prior versions (unincorporated association d/b/a MLB).
• Article II, Sec. 2 — Functions of Commissioner: same structure as prior versions (CEO of MLB; investigative authority; preventive/remedial/punitive action; rule-making; appointment of League Presidents; on-field discipline).
• Article II, Sec. 3 — Punitive Actions: (a)-(g) tracks prior versions, with (e) player fine 'in an amount consistent with the then-current Basic Agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association' — confirming the post-2005-update revision (away from the original $5K cap). Club fine cap $2M; owner/officer/employee fine cap $500K.
• Article II, Sec. 4 — Limits on 'Best Interests' Power: same structure as prior versions; the 'integrity / public confidence / long-term competitive balance' proviso unchanged.
• Article II, Sec. 5 — CBA carve-out: unchanged.
• Article II, Sec. 6 — Action against non-parties: unchanged.
• Article II, Sec. 7 — Office of the Commissioner financing: substantively similar to prior versions.
• Article II, Sec. 8 — Commissioner term: minimum 3 years, eligible to succeed self, no diminution of compensation/powers during term.
• [Articles III through XV not yet reviewed in this metadata pass — full content review of the 17 pages deferred to a subsequent pass.]

Notable provisions

This Major League Constitution constitutes an agreement among the Major League Baseball Clubs, each of which shall be entitled to the benefits of and shall be bound by all the terms and provisions hereof, and it shall remain in effect through December 31, 2018.— MLC Art. I (this version)

in an amount consistent with the then-current Basic Agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association, in the case of a player— MLC Art. II, Sec. 3(e) — player fine cap clause (replacing the original $5,000 cap in the true 2005 update)

Further context

MLB Constitution — through-2018 amendment

The third entry in the public-source Constitution supersession chain. Article I expiration: December 31, 2018. Source: a 2020 SDNY court exhibit in the DFS/Astros sign-stealing class action.

Why the court-filing provenance matters

MLB filed this Constitution as Document 29-1 (Exhibit 1) in Olson v. Major League Baseball, 1:20-cv-00632-JSR (S.D.N.Y., filed Feb. 21, 2020), before Judge Jed S. Rakoff. The case was the consolidated DFS class action alleging that the Astros' (and Red Sox') sign-stealing materially affected DraftKings fantasy outcomes. AP staff uploaded the exhibit to DocumentCloud on Feb. 24, 2020.

This is the strongest possible authentication path: MLB itself attached the document to a federal court filing as evidence. PACER would contain the same Document 29-1 if we want a second-source check.

What changed from the prior version

Compared to the post-2005 amendment (which had Dec 31, 2012 expiration):

• Expiration extended to Dec 31, 2018.
• Player fine cap clause (Sec. 3(e)) unchanged — still "consistent with the then-current Basic Agreement."
• Substantive Commissioner-authority structure unchanged.

The post-2005 amendment was operative until somewhere around 2013, when this amendment took effect (estimated; precise adoption date not visible on the document).

The supersession chain so far

Why this matters

This is the version operative through both the Astros sign-stealing scandal (2017-2020) and the early COVID-affected seasons. The Manfred 2020 sign-stealing report and the structure of the Astros' $5M fine and lost draft picks were all framed under this Constitution's authority.

Related documents in the archive

• 2005-06_constitution_mlb-constitution-true-2005-update.md — original June 2005.
• 2008-03_constitution_mlb-constitution-post-2005-amendment.md — post-2005 amendment, ~2008.

Verification status

needs_review. Single source (DocumentCloud via user upload, court-filing provenance). PACER cross-check would provide a second source.

Related documents

Supersedes

MLB Constitution (post-2005 amendment)

Related documents

MLB Constitution (June 2005 Update), MLB Constitution (post-2005 amendment)

Source provenance

• Primary source