For the Love of the (Fantasy) Game

Fantasy baseball gives fans the illusion of major league power

EVANSTON, Ill. --- As professional baseball clubs prepare for the upcoming season with spring training in Florida and Arizona, millions of fans around the country are preparing for a season of their own in fantasy baseball.

“It lets you have an illusion of power, “ said Bill Savage, senior lecturer in English at Northwestern University and a member of the Society for American Baseball Research. “You own a team! You’ve drafted the players!”

In this audio commentary, Savage discusses the fascination many have with fantasy baseball and why statistics are an important part of that fascination.