MILWAUKEE – Three Major League Baseball games were postponed Wednesday because players across the sports landscape reacted during the weekend’s shooting by police of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin.
Games between the Cincinnati Reds and Brewers in Milwaukee, Seattle Mariners and Padres in San Diego and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Giants in San Francisco were called off hours before they were set to begin.
Dodgers star Mookie Betts, who is Black, told his teammates he was sitting outside and they supported him.
“For me, I think, whatever, I would not play tonight,” Betts said.
“I have to use my platform to at least get the ball rolling,” he said.
All three postponed games will be formatted as double headers on Thursday. There is also the possibility that other games around the major could be affected on Thursday – one day before MLB is set to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day, which was postponed from April by the coronavirus pandemic.
When Betts made his decision, the Dodgers stood by him, said Ace Clayton Kershaw.
“More than anything as a teammate of Mookie’s, as a member of this team … as a white player in this team is how do we show support? What is something tangible we can do to help our Black brothers in this team?” Kershaw said.
Other MLB games were ready, were on the way or just at the beginning when the announcements were made.
The baseball proposal came after the NBA Milwaukee Bucks did not hit the floor Wednesday afternoon for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series with the Orlando Magic in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NBA officials later announced that all three of the scheduled playoff games of the day had been postponed.
Three WNBA games were also called up in the league bubble in Bradenton, Florida.
MLB players pushed the decisions that resulted in the postponements. Others, such as field player Matt Kemp in Colorado, chose to sit while their teams played.
“Given the pain in the communities of Wisconsin and beyond the shooting of Jacob Blake, we respect the decisions of a number of players not to play tonight. Major League Baseball remains united for change in our society and we will be allies in ‘ the fight to end racism and injustice, “the league said in a statement.
Players’ union Tony Clark said: “At this critical time, players are deeply affected by the recent events in Wisconsin and by similar events in other parts of the country. We are proud of the position our players have taken , and we remain committed to supporting their efforts to influence change in MLB communities and beyond. “
Blake was shot seven times by police Sunday. He was shot as he tried to enter the side door of the driver of his car with three of his children inside. Video of the shooting was circulated on social media.
“The Brewers and Reds players have decided not to play tonight’s baseball game. With our community and our nation in such pain, we wanted to draw so much attention to the issues that are really important, especially racial injustice and systemic oppression, “Milwaukee and Cincinnati players said in a joint statement in Miller Park.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell said: “The Bucks are leading here. The NBA is leading here. But our players, they went to Major League Baseball first and I’m still very proud of them there.”
The Brewers support this attitude.
“The Milwaukee Brewers organization joins the players in their decision not to play tonight’s game. We need to stop and reflect on the events that are causing our local community and country such pain and suffering. whole organization is committed to putting the spotlight on racial injustice, inequality, and the need for change, “the team said.
Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun said the Bucks’ decision inspired the Brewers to act. The team held a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, which led to the decision not to play.
“That motivated us. … At one point, actions speak louder than words,” Braun said in a video conference. “Because this happened so close to home, it affects us differently than other teams.”
Braun said the team intends to continue with the season as planned, but “this was our top priority today.”
Brewers star Christian Yelich said he exchanged lyrics with Bucks guard Pat Connaughton to let him know they would not be playing at Miller Park and that “we wanted to unite with them in what they started.”
Brewers player Brent Suter’s spokesman said he had informed Cincinnati’s Mike Moustakas and thrower Wade Miley – both former Brewers – of the decision.
“They just said flat out, ‘We support your boys something. Whatever you decide to do, we’re all for it. We want to follow your lead,'” Suter said. “That was a great comfort to us after the meeting.”
Mariners infielder / outfielder Dee Gordon said in a tweet that the team unanimously decided to skip the game at Petco Park.
Instead of looking at us, we hope that people will focus on the things more important than sports that happen.
– Dee Strange-Gordon
– Dee Gordon (@FlashGJr) August 26, 2020
The Mariners have the most Black players of any team in MLB, and pitcher Justin Dunn tweeted: “Enough is enough.”
Dunn included a hashtag of Black Lives Matter and a cartoon image of him and his Black teammates in shirts of Black Lives Matter.
A sprinkling of Dodgers and Giants players was loose and the field crew fell to the field near Oracle Park when the game was postponed.
“My cousin was shot and killed. My father was one of the first black men in his high school,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, son of an African-American father and Japanese mother. It was just more about getting everyone together and sharing our thoughts. … Together we finally came to the consensus that we should not play today. “
Kemp, who is Black, announced on social media that he would skip the Colorado game in Arizona “in protest of the injustice my people continue to suffer.”
“I could not play this game, I love so much of the evening, knew the hurt and pain my people feel,” he wrote. “In a world where we are the ones who need to stay calm while a trained professional points a gun in our face; a world where the people in uniforms who have taken an oath to protect us are the same who kill us; a world where we become hashtags before we even reach our potential; we must stand together, speak out, protest, and be the change we demand, need, and so little need. “
Mets slugger Dom Smith, a black man who spoke about his experiences in an overwhelming white sport, took a knee-jerk reaction to the national anthem for the first time this season. Pitcher Robert Gsellman in New York, who is white, wore a Black Lives Matter T-shirt instead of a uniform when he was seen from the stands behind the dugout.
“Ending police brutality is more important than sports,” Pirates insider Cole Tucker wrote in a tweet. Pittsburgh played the Chicago White Sox this afternoon, before the Bucks became the first pro sports team to decide not to play on Wednesday.
Dexter Fowler, who is Black, and Jack Flaherty of the Cardinals both chose not to participate in the St. Louis game. Louis against visiting Kansas City. The team tweeted that it supports the decision.
Chicago Cubs fielder Jason Heyward, who is Black, was removed from the lineup shortly before the first pitch in Detroit.
“There were several guys who said they were not comfortable going out and playing when I was not going out. They did not want to let me hang out,” Heyward said. “I let them know, encouraged them – no, go play the game. I do not think the game should be canceled. But I think I should do what I have to do.”
Washington manager Dave Martinez said he had not heard about the move for a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia.
“I just started reading what happened and what happened. I will say this though. I’m proud of the NBA. I’m proud of all the people who stand for justice,” he said. It’s horrible. We need change. “
“I’ll talk to the players. We’ll see what happens tomorrow. I understand,” he said, choking.
Toronto slugger Rowdy Tellez said the Blue Jays would meet Thursday to decide on a course of action.
“It’s going to be a great team discussion and probably a lot of emotion for a lot of guys who know what it’s like,” he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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