Major League Baseball would not let the New York Mets wear NYPD,
FDNY and PAPD caps during last night's game against the Chicago
Cubs at Citi Field.
Of course, after the events of September 11, 2001, the Mets
donned NYPD, FDNY and PAPD caps during games.
It did not escape the attention of ESPN broadcasters that Mets
third baseman David Wright was wearing a FDNY cap in the dugout for
an inning.
I am saddened but not surprised that MLB prohibited the Mets
from donning the caps. Last month, MLB denied a request from the
Washington Nationals to
honor the Navy SEALS killed in Afghanistan.
Ironically enough, it was former New York Yankees manager Joe
Torre who was the bearer of bad news. Torre, who now serves MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig as Executive Vice-President of Baseball
Operations,
said, "We just felt all the major leagues are honoring the same
way with the American flag on the uniform and the cap. This is a
uniformity thing."
Uniformity?
If it's about uniformity then why were the Chicago White Sox
permitted to wear green caps during their game Saturday night
against the Cleveland Indians in honor of....Half
Way to St. Patrick's Day?
Perhaps what Torre means by uniformity is that MLB doesn't want
to run afoul of its
contract with cap manufacturer New Era. The Mets would have
faced a heavy fine if they had worn the caps during the game. The
fact that MLB and New Era can make green caps for the Chicago White
Sox to celebrate "Half Way to St. Patrick's Day" but can't make
arrangements for the Mets to wear NYPD, FDNY and PAPD caps tells
you that their priorities leave much to be desired. Sometimes the
almighty dollar gets in the way of love of country.
MLB has been on my ignore list for ten years. Thanks for one
more reason to leave it there.
Paul McGrath| 9.12.11 @ 12:25PM
I wish baseball would knock it off. I don't want my team to wear
"FDNY" caps, or "NYPD" caps or white caps on Memorial Day, or pink
caps for breast cancer awareness day, or any of the other
horrible-looking caps each team wears a half-dozen times each year.
I watch baseball because I enjoy the game itself, because I love
the tradition, and last but not least because to a certain extent
it is an escape from the stress of daily life.
Certain people in the world are so anxious to show everyone else
how patriotic they are, or how caring they are, or how thoughtful
they are. (Which is why we have the president we do.)
Baseball is nothing more than a game. It should not be used to
make a political or any other kind of statement.
GVB| 9.12.11 @ 12:48PM
"Sometimes the almighty dollar gets in the way of love of
country."
LiveFreeOrDie| 9.12.11 @ 10:51AM
MLB has been on my ignore list for ten years. Thanks for one more reason to leave it there.
Paul McGrath| 9.12.11 @ 12:25PM
I wish baseball would knock it off. I don't want my team to wear "FDNY" caps, or "NYPD" caps or white caps on Memorial Day, or pink caps for breast cancer awareness day, or any of the other horrible-looking caps each team wears a half-dozen times each year. I watch baseball because I enjoy the game itself, because I love the tradition, and last but not least because to a certain extent it is an escape from the stress of daily life.
Certain people in the world are so anxious to show everyone else how patriotic they are, or how caring they are, or how thoughtful they are. (Which is why we have the president we do.)
Baseball is nothing more than a game. It should not be used to make a political or any other kind of statement.
GVB| 9.12.11 @ 12:48PM
"Sometimes the almighty dollar gets in the way of love of country."
Sometimes?