Astros Class Action Says Cheating Scandal Harmed Fans

An MLB fan has filed a class action lawsuit against the Houston Astros and its management, over claims that the team engaged in prohibited sign stealing behavior.

The Astros class action lawsuit was filed by Adam Wallach, who says he purchased season tickets. Allegedly, he would not have purchased season tickets, or would not have paid as much for them, if he had known the Astros engaged in this scheme.

The cheating reportedly reduced the value of game tickets, and misled customers who purchased tickets with the belief that games would be fairly played.

According to Wallach, multiple seasons were affected by the sign stealing scheme, and therefore season ticket holders overpaid for their tickets during the seasons it took place. Wallach alleges the sign stealing occurred from 2017 to 2020.

The MLB class action explains that MLB teams, including the Astros, use signs to communicate between players as well as the coaches. These signs are reportedly used so members of one team can communicate without the opposing team gaining insight into their strategies.

For example, the pitcher may rely on signs to the catcher to decide the type of pitch to throw. Allegedly, communicating with signs is not prohibited.

The Astros sign stealing class action lawsuit asserts that both players and staff engaged in sign stealing. This allegedly began when Derek Vigoa, former intern and current director of team operations, introduced “Codebreaker” to the company. Codebreaker is reportedly an Excel application and algorithm that can decode signs given by the opposing team’s catcher. 

The MLB class action lawsuit says the Astros staff would watch a baseball game live and when the opposing team’s catcher gave a sign, they would relay what pitch was coming next to players on the field.

In some cases, Wallach says that players in the dugout would relay signs to their teammates on the field by banging on a trash can. The team would also allegedly use another system of signs known by the batter to communicate what pitch the opposing team would throw.

The MLB sign stealing class action lawsuit argues that this conduct is prohibited by MLB rules. The Astros reportedly knew or should have known sign stealing was against the rules, but still engaged in the action. To support the claim that the Astros were aware their actions were illegal, Wallach points to a similar sign stealing scandal involving the Boston Red Sox, who went on to win the 2018 World Series.

Previously, fantasy baseball league fans filed class action lawsuits taking issue with the alleged sign stealing.

What do you think of sign stealing? Tell us your opinion in the comments section below.

Wallach is represented by Mitchell A. Toups of Mitchell A. Toups LTD, and by Richard L. Coffman of the Coffman Law Firm.

The Astros Sign Stealing Class Action Lawsuit is Adam Wallach v. Houston Astros LLC, et al., Case No. 2020-10637, in the District Court of Harris County, Texas.

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