The Most Powerful Man in Baseball? The Smithsonian Associates Presents an Evening with Superagent Scott Boras

The Smithsonian Associates presents “The Most Powerful Man in Baseball? An Evening with Superagent Scott Boras” Monday, Aug. 4, at 6:45 p.m. in Baird Auditorium at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Former Washington Senators stadium announcer Phil Hochberg leads a panel with Scott Boras; Phil Wood, the Washington Nationals television and radio host and veteran D.C. sportscaster; and Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.

When Bryce Harper signed a $9.9 million contract with the Nationals while he was still a teenager, Boras was behind the deal. That was pocket money considering the $214 million, nine-year deal Boras obtained for Prince Fielder with the Detroit Tigers. No agent has done more $200 million-plus deals in the history of baseball than Boras; he has done three. He was the first to negotiate $50–$250 million multiyear pacts.

Boras has influenced sports, especially baseball, where his dislike of the draft system is no secret. Some people call him the most powerful man in the game. He says his job is to represent his clients’ interests, and sometimes that means facing public criticism. While Boras continues to negotiate multimillion dollar contracts, Major League Baseball’s revenues continue to rise. With robust television contracts, sponsorships, ticket sales and revenue sharing, the industry may top more than $9 billion by the end of 2014.  

Tickets for the Smithsonian Associates’ event are $45 for general admission and $35 for Smithsonian Associates’ members. For tickets, the public may call (202) 633-3030 or visit www.smithsonianassociates.org.

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SI-310-2014