Throughout the 1920's, player salaries increased more slowly than industry profits. By the end of the decade, Major League ballplayers made only five times as much as the average laborer and payroll constituted just 35% of total team expenditures.

The only negotiating tactic for players was the holdout. In 1922 alone, there were 40 holdouts. If a player threatened to quit the game, an owner might be influenced to increase his salary. Ty Cobb was one of few players who had a viable business option away from baseball and was talented enough to negotiate his salary (Cobb played until 1919).

In 1921, MLB owners appointed Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis as baseball’s first commissioner. Following the Black Sox World Series-fixing scandal, owners gave Landis a broad scope of authority to act in the ”best interests of baseball” in order to maintain the game’s integrity. The primary issues for Landis included: game-fixing, off-field conduct, unsanctioned barnstorming, and contract-jumping.

Johnny Evers attempted to mobilize players in 1921 in order to obtain pensions and health coverage. In the spring of 1922, former players, including Happy Felsch, formed the National Baseball Players Association of the United States. Both efforts failed quickly and plans to develop a pension program were scrapped.

Ray Cannon, a Wisconsin congressman, also made efforts to start a players union in the 1920's. He also attempted to mount a congressional investigation into the business of baseball. However, his efforts failed.

In 1924, major and minor league players contributed dues money to the newly formed Association of Professional Ball Players of America. The association also received contributions from owners. Their main goal was to gain financial assistance for needy players. This organization also failed quickly.

In 1929, the stock market crashed and impacted all of America, including baseball. Salaries were cut, rosters were cut, and baseball saw many changes in its minor league system as well as its ethnic makeup.