The author's word choice of the phrase "baseball still sported a less-than-spotless reputation," demonstrates that he is speaking of a time that has occurred in the past, probably the author is making a comparison with the present day where the baiseball boasts a reputation. that the author is not satisfied. It is as if the author said: "Baseball doesn't have a good reputation these days, but at the time baseball still had a less than impeccable reputation, ..."
