When he was Major League Baseball\u2019s commissioner, Bud Selig publicly touted the league\u2019s role in advocating for social change. Selig oversaw the retirement of Jackie Robinson\u2019s number, the expansion of the league\u2019s outreach to urban youth, and the establishment of LGBTQ+-supportive events.<\/p>\n
After retiring, Selig was asked whether MLB remained a pioneer in social change. \u201cI would hope,\u201d he replied <\/a>in 2019, \u201cbecause I believe baseball\u2019s a social institution. I\u2019ve said that, you\u2019ve heard it a million times. It is a social institution. And therefore it should take a leadership role in items like this, no question.\u201d<\/p>\n Selig\u2019s sentiment stands in stark contrast to the stance spelled out this week <\/a>by his successor, Rob Manfred, amid a maelstrom of controversy after the league warned several San Francisco Giants players for writing Bible verses on their Pride-themed caps: \u201c(T)he league does not desire for its players to become messengers for political or social issues while in uniform playing baseball games,\u201d Manfred wrote in a letter, \u201cbecause many messages have the potential to offend some segment of our fanbase \u2014 even if that was not the intent of the player.\u201d<\/p>\n The letter, which largely reiterated and defended MLB\u2019s policies on altering uniforms, was sent to Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who had accused the league<\/a> of discriminating against players professing their Christian faith. Pitchers Landen Roupp, Ryan Walker and JT Brubaker scrawled references to Genesis 9 \u2014\u00a0 in which a rainbow represents God\u2019s promise to never again destroy all life in a flood \u2014 beside the rainbow-colored Giants logo on their caps. (A fourth pitcher, Sam Hentges, wore a regular Giants cap.) Florida\u2019s attorney general is investigating whether MLB engaged in religious discrimination by selectively enforcing its uniform code. The Department of Justice referred the matter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The vice president tweeted about it, too.<\/p>\n All of this \u2014 a baseball cap fanning the flames of a culture war \u2014 underscores the needle that MLB and other pro sports leagues are attempting to thread in the current political climate.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery league, they\u2019re just trying to ride it out,\u201d said an executive in a Big Four sports league, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely on the subject. \u201cThen in four or five years, they\u2019ll all pretend that they\u2019ve always been on board (with diversity initiatives).\u201d<\/p>\n As Pride Month comes to a close, the question becomes how MLB will move forward. Riding it out has been a turbulent strategy, if it can be considered one. Not so long ago, MLB went out of its way to highlight<\/a> its commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. Today, that commitment is less clear, as what was once promoted as a priority for the league has become more politically fraught.<\/p>\n While 29 of 30 MLB clubs still host Pride-themed events, the league in recent years quietly backed away from allowing most teams to use specialty uniforms and caps with rainbow insignias. That didn\u2019t prevent the latest Pride Night controversy.<\/p>\n An MLB spokesperson declined to answer a list of questions, including one asking whether the league still prioritized LGBTQ+-inclusion initiatives.<\/p>\n In 2022, three Tampa Bay Rays players refused to wear rainbow logos on their caps and uniform sleeves. MLB later adopted a new policy that did not permit special uniforms, caps or equipment to be used on clubs\u2019 designated celebration days \u2014 such as a Pride Night \u2014 to \u201cavoid putting players or others in an uncomfortable position,\u201d Manfred wrote. The Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, clubs with longstanding ties to the LGBTQ+ community, were the only teams \u201cgrandfathered,\u201d as Manfred wrote, under the condition that no one be required to participate.<\/p>\n \u201cMLB believes in the right of our players and fans to express their religious beliefs, and at the same time supports the communities in this country that are fans of our Clubs, including the LGBTQ community,\u201d Manfred wrote in the letter to Hawley. \u201cWe believe that a policy permitting our Clubs to celebrate or honor segments of its fanbase, yet (that) does not require players or other on-field personnel to directly participate in the celebration in ways that make them uncomfortable, strikes the right balance.\u201d<\/p>\n An MLB spokesperson declined to comment on whether the league would restrict future use of the uniforms. Neither the Dodgers nor the Giants responded to questions about whether they\u2019d continue using Pride-themed uniforms or caps. The Major League Baseball Players Association also declined to comment on the larger issue.<\/p>\n MLB has 12 leaguewide \u201ccelebration days\u201d in which the uniforms or hats are altered and all clubs must participate \u2014 including Mother\u2019s Day, Father\u2019s Day, Sept. 11, Jackie Robinson Day and Roberto Clemente Day, among others. Manfred\u2019s letter indicates that will not change: \u201cWe are unaware of any significant complaints from fans or players regarding these celebratory days,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n In 2014, Selig\u2019s last season as commissioner, he appointed former big-league outfielder Billy Bean as the league\u2019s first ambassador for inclusion<\/a>. Bean, an openly gay man who would later be promoted to senior vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, interfaced directly with players \u2014 including those who had expressed reservations about acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.<\/p>\n