The scummiest thing ever done by an MLB owner (Cubs tickets)

Thanks to Deadspin for pointing this out to the world:

The Inaugural (Sponsor MetsPolice won’t mention)® First Chance Pre-Sale offers Chicago Cubs fans the first opportunity to purchase individual tickets at a premium for all Cubs home games, including Opening Day, in advance of the February 19th on-sale date.

Starting Monday, February 15th at 10am CT, fans will have first access to all Chicago Cubs 2010 regular season home games by going to Cubs.com and paying a 20% premium on the face value of the ticket. However, if you use a (particular brand of credit) card during this Pre-Sale promotion you will save 5% on the pre-sale price. In addition, you will receive a 20% discount on your next purchase at the Cubs.com Shop when you enter this code (CHC20FEB) and use your (sponsorcard).

Let me translate for you.  Tickets go on-sale on Thursday.  However, if you’d really like tickets today you can pay 20% more.

I’m no lawyer, and I don’t know if these Illinois scalping laws are accurate or up to date, and I’m confident that the Cubs and all MLB teams are honorable folks always well within the law, but if you’re a lawyer and see an opening, hey who am I to tell you what to do with your free time?   To my non-lawyer eyes I imagine the below might cover them:

Nothing contained in this Act was ever intended to prohibit nor shall ever be deemed to prohibit a ticket seller, with consent of the sponsor of such baseball game, football game, hockey game, theatre entertainment or other amusement, from collecting a reasonable service charge, in addition to the printed box office ticket price, from a ticket purchaser in return for service actually rendered.

See, it’s probably just a reasonable service charge.   My opinion is that it is scummy.

Baseball is a business folks.  A business.  You are just a cash register.

Any bets on when this comes to New York City?  I will predict 2011 in the Bronx, and 2013 in Flushing with the All Star Game as bait.