HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 23: Houston Astros fans cheer during Game 2 of the 2019 World Series between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Houston Astros are facing a lawsuit for ‘deceptively overcharging’ fans during their sign-stealing scandal.
Many people are angry with the Houston Astros in the midst of their sign-stealing scandal and subsequent punishment. The latest critic is Adam Wallach, a season-ticket holder who is suing the team over what he alleges are violations of Texas’s Deceptive Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act.
The lawsuit claims that the Astros deceived their fans by “overcharging them for season tickets while … knowingly and surreptitiously engaged in a sign stealing scheme in violation of Major League Baseball’s rules.” Because the fans were not aware of the sign-stealing scheme, the lawsuit argues that the Astros “put a deficient product on the field” in secret.
The lawsuit asks for compensation for all season ticket holders between 2017 and 2020, and also asks that season ticket prices be frozen for the next two years.
This isn’t the only lawsuit the Houston Astros are facing. Another law firm is seeking clients to bring a similar suit against the team regarding online advertising. And former Dodgers’ pitcher Mike Bolsinger is suing the team after a particularly bad outing in Houston in 2017 ended his MLB career. He has not been able to find a job in the major or minor leagues since, although he has played the last two seasons in Japan.
The lawsuits are just one part of what has been an awful few weeks for Houston. After MLB handed down a punishment that included a year-long suspension for their former GM and former manager, the team has been berated by players from around the league during the opening days of spring training. Cody Bellinger said the team stole the World Series from the Dodgers in 2017, while Mike Trout said the players should have been punished.
The general tone around baseball and around the country is one of frustration and disappointment with the Astros conduct both in the cheating scandal and in the fallout.
It is going to be a long, long season in Houston.