Major League Baseball issued a statement on Tuesday trying to downplay its clear targeting of Christian players on the San Francisco Giants who rejected a recent LGBT &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; game.
After the MLB boasted to The Athletic, a subsidiary of the New York Times, that a handful of Christian players have been &#8220;warned&#8221; about writing Bible verses on their baseball caps, the league issued a follow-up statement on Tuesday.
“To be clear, this routine verbal warning not to wear the hat in future games is not disciplinary and had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message,&#8221; the MLB said, according to sports broadcaster Blake Niemann. &#8220;We respect players’ right to free expression. However, writing of any kind, with any message, is prohibited per Major League Baseball’s Uniform Regulations.&#8221;
The statement seemed to come in response to mounting backlash the league was receiving for singling out the handful of players who counter-signaled or rejected the LGBT rainbow-themed baseball caps for a &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; event. As highlighted by The Daily Wire, Giants starting pitcher <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/giants-pitcher-refuses-to-hide-christian-faith-during-pride-night">Landen Roupp</a> etched a Bible passage found in Genesis on the cap. Other players, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker, followed suit, standing up for their Christian faith and also adding Bible verses. Relief pitcher Sam Hentges refused to wear the rainbow cap altogether, stating, “I don’t morally support it.”
&#8220;The writing on the cap violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice we have warned the players about future violations,&#8221; the MLB said on Monday.
The Giants also issued a statement that championed &#8220;inclusion&#8221; and apologized for the team&#8217;s Christian players apparently hurting the LGBT community: “We understand that the choices by individual players have caused pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community and we are sorry for that,&#8221; the team said.
MLB fans and political commentators don&#8217;t seem to be buying the league&#8217;s latest spin. Conservative author Mollie Hemingway commented, &#8220;Of all the professional sports leagues to go out of their way to hate Christians and conservatives, [MLB] is most disappointing. There’s not a single left-wing political-religious scam they haven’t embraced. And any resistance to their extremism is met with hostility.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Of all the professional sports leagues to go out of their way to hate Christians and conservatives, <a href="https://x.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a> is most disappointing. There’s not a single left-wing political-religious scam they haven’t embraced. And any resistance to their extremism is met with hostility.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) <a href="https://x.com/MZHemingway/status/2066988338142155214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
Notably, the MLB faced backlash in 2023 after the Los Angeles Dodgers honored the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — a drag group that mocks Catholicism — during the team&#8217;s &#8220;Pride Night.&#8221; It was also uncovered earlier this year that a Washington Nationals executive said the team avoided featuring pitcher Trevor Williams on social media because of his outspoken Catholic faith.
The MLB also went all-in on the Black Lives Matter movement, allowing BLM patches and messages on uniforms, displaying BLM-themed logos on fields, and promoting player-led campaigns against racism. In 2021, the league even moved its All-Star Game from Atlanta over a voter ID law the league apparently viewed as racist.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mlb-targets-christian-players-who-rejected-lgbt-pride-night?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=MLB+Targets+Christian+Players+Who+Rejected+LGBT+‘Pride+Night’">MLB Targets Christian Players Who Rejected LGBT ‘Pride Night’</a>

MLB / LGBT

MLB Scrambles For Damage Control After Targeting Christian Players. No One’s Buying It.

MLB Issues Damage Control Statement After Targeting Christian Players. No One’s Buying It.

LGBTQ

Backlash against Major League Baseball is continuing to build after the league condemned and warned Christian baseball players for counter-signaling or outright rejecting an LGBT &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; last week.
As highlighted by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mlb-targets-christian-players-who-rejected-lgbt-pride-night">The Daily Wire</a>, several San Francisco Giants players marked their gay pride-themed baseball caps with Bible passages, while another player refused to wear the cap at all. In response, the MLB boasted to The Athletic — a subsidiary of The New York Times — that it &#8220;warned&#8221; these players against &#8220;future violations.&#8221;
Conservative commentators quickly reacted, condemning the MLB for supposedly preaching &#8220;inclusion&#8221; while targeting the handful of players who expressed their Christian beliefs. The MLB also caught the attention of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who posted, &#8220;Do you practice religious discrimination in Florida, [MLB]? You’ll be hearing from my office soon.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Do you practice religious discrimination in Florida, <a href="https://x.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a>?
You’ll be hearing from my office soon. <a href="https://t.co/znUcRXH8p6">https://t.co/znUcRXH8p6</a>
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) <a href="https://x.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/2066923867189260382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley is demanding answers, too. &#8220;What does MLB think it’s doing penalizing players for their Christian faith? They owe us some answers. Right now,&#8221; he wrote on X.
The post captions a letter asking MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred about the apparent discrimination. Demanding answers by June 19, Hawley asks for information on &#8220;[a]ny policy, directive, or expectation-formal or informal governing whether players are required, encouraged, or expected to wear Pride Night caps, jerseys, or other themed apparel, and whether a player who declines to do so faces any consequence beyond the league&#8217;s written rules, including in playing time, roster or assignment decisions, club media and promotion, or standing within the organization.&#8221;
He also asks for information on &#8220;[a]ll approvals, authorizations, or directives by which the league created, permitted, or arranged the display of &#8216;Black Lives Matter,&#8217; &#8216;United for Change,&#8217; or comparable messaging on jerseys, mounds, or equipment, and any guidance by which the league relaxed its equipment rules to allow players to display social or political messages.&#8221;
The senator ended the letter with the following message: &#8220;The freedom to live out one&#8217;s faith does not end at the ballpark gate. Americans of every creed are entitled to confidence that the institutions of our national pastime will not single out religious expression for punishment while celebrating messages of the league&#8217;s own choosing. I trust the league shares that commitment, and I look forward to your prompt and complete response.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
What does MLB think it’s doing penalizing players for their Christian faith?
They owe us some answers. Right now. <a href="https://t.co/yDPmjC6SMZ">pic.twitter.com/yDPmjC6SMZ</a>
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://x.com/HawleyMO/status/2066929408913645917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
As The Daily Wire previously reported, starting Giants pitcher <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/giants-pitcher-refuses-to-hide-christian-faith-during-pride-night">Landen Roupp</a> on Friday etched a Bible passage found in Genesis onto his Giants cap, right next to the LGBT-themed rainbow logo the team had directed him to wear. Other players, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker, followed suit in standing up for their Christian faith, also adding Bible verses. And relief pitcher Sam Hentges refused to wear the rainbow cap altogether, stating, “I don’t morally support it.”
MLB’s chief communications officer Pat Courtney told The Athletic on Monday that these players have been “warned” about “future violations.” He said that writing on the team’s baseball caps “violates our rules.”
The Giants also addressed the Christian players. In a statement ironically about “inclusion,” the team apologized for its players apparently causing “pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community.”
“The San Francisco Giants are proud to support Pride Night and the LGBTQ+ community,” the statement said. “Baseball should be a place where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued. We also respect that individuals may make personal choices about participating in team activations. We understand that the choices by individual players have caused pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community and we are sorry for that.”
“Those choices do not change our organization’s commitment to inclusion, belonging, and creating a welcoming environment for all,” the team closed. “We remain grateful to our fans, partners, employees, players, and coaches who help make Pride Night a meaningful celebration.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mlb-targets-christian-players-who-rejected-lgbt-pride-night">MLB Targets Christian Players Who Rejected LGBT ‘Pride Night’</a>

Chicago Cubs v San Francisco Giants

Backlash Mounts Against MLB For Targeting Christians: ‘You’ll Be Hearing From My Office’

Baseball

Christians

Politics

Sports

Major League Baseball has officially warned San Francisco Giants players who counter-signaled or rejected the team&#8217;s LGBT &#8220;Pride Night.&#8221;
Starting pitcher <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/giants-pitcher-refuses-to-hide-christian-faith-during-pride-night">Landen Roupp</a> on Friday etched a Bible passage found in Genesis onto his Giants cap, right next to the LGBT-themed rainbow logo he was directed to wear. Other players, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker, followed suit in standing up for their Christian faith, also adding Bible verses. And relief pitcher Sam Hentges refused to wear the rainbow cap altogether, stating, &#8220;I don&#8217;t morally support it.&#8221;
MLB’s chief communications officer Pat Courtney told The Athletic on Monday that these players have been &#8220;warned&#8221; about &#8220;future violations.&#8221; He said that writing on the team&#8217;s baseball caps &#8220;violates our rules.&#8221;
The Giants also addressed the Christian players. In a statement ironically about &#8220;inclusion,&#8221; the team apologized for its players apparently causing &#8220;pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community.&#8221;
“The San Francisco Giants are proud to support Pride Night and the LGBTQ+ community,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;Baseball should be a place where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued.&#8221;
&#8220;We also respect that individuals may make personal choices about participating in team activations,&#8221; the team continued. &#8220;We understand that the choices by individual players have caused pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community and we are sorry for that.&#8221;
&#8220;Those choices do not change our organization’s commitment to inclusion, belonging, and creating a welcoming environment for all,&#8221; the statement closed. &#8220;We remain grateful to our fans, partners, employees, players, and coaches who help make Pride Night a meaningful celebration.”
<div id="attachment_1116807" style="width: 833px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1116807" class="wp-image-1116807 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2281423727-823x576.jpg" alt="" width="823" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2281423727-823x576.jpg 823w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2281423727-300x210.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2281423727-768x538.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2281423727.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 823px) 100vw, 823px" />Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images</div>
Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet reacted to the MLB &#8220;warning&#8221; with his own warning — a sentiment widely expressed online.
&#8220;MLB should tread carefully,&#8221; he posted. &#8220;There’s a lot more us fans that agree with the pitchers than with the league when it comes to pride night propaganda. Let the MLB be warned, not the pitchers. Be careful, MLB.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
MLB should tread carefully. There’s a lot more us fans that agree with the pitchers than with the league when it comes to pride night propaganda.
Let the MLB be warned, not the pitchers.
Be careful, MLB. <a href="https://t.co/pCeHh009y5">https://t.co/pCeHh009y5</a>
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) <a href="https://x.com/AndrewKolvet/status/2066740999737770208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham noted that the rainbow symbol is Christian based. &#8220;The LGBTQ movement appropriated the rainbow symbol from Christianity. Now Christians are taking it back. Deal with it,&#8221; she wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The LGBTQ movement appropriated the rainbow symbol from Christianity. Now Christians are taking it back. Deal with it. <a href="https://t.co/i2XmwXeyQR">https://t.co/i2XmwXeyQR</a>
— Megan Basham (@megbasham) <a href="https://x.com/megbasham/status/2066754376543429037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
Actor Rob Schneider called the MLB &#8220;anti-Christian&#8221; and said he&#8217;d &#8220;pay the fines for any [MLB] Christian player who wears a Bible verse on their uniform.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I will pay the fines for any <a href="https://x.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a> Christian player who wears a Bible verse on their uniform.<a href="https://x.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a> is ANTI-CHRISTIAN <a href="https://t.co/miAT89eXJu">https://t.co/miAT89eXJu</a>
— Rob Schneider 🇺🇸 (@RobSchneider) <a href="https://x.com/RobSchneider/status/2066796902021210190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
As highlighted by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/giants-pitcher-refuses-to-hide-christian-faith-during-pride-night">The Daily Wire</a>, the Giants&#8217; &#8220;Pride Night&#8221; was held on Friday. The game was dedicated as a “celebration of Pride and the LGBTQIA+ community” and included “pregame festivities, in-game celebrations, and appearances,&#8221; <a href="https://www.mlb.com/giants/tickets/specials/pride-celebration">according</a> to the MLB. Same-sex couples renewed their marriage vows on the field in the presence of a drag queen, and the Giants celebrated the LGBT community <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/san-francisco-giants-pitcher-writes-bible-verse-hat-defiance-pride-night">through rainbow-colored hats</a>, Fox News reported.
Roupp inscribed a Bible passage from Genesis 9 on his cap. The verses describe God’s promise to Noah and all future generations that he would never again destroy the earth with a flood, with the rainbow serving as the sign of that covenant:
<blockquote>And God said, &#8220;This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.&#8221; — Genesis 9:12-16</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/giants-pitcher-refuses-to-hide-christian-faith-during-pride-night">Giants Pitcher Refuses To Hide Christian Faith During Pride Night</a>

Giants Final

MLB Targets Christian Players Who Rejected LGBT ‘Pride Night’

MLB Targets Giants Players Who Rejected LGBT ‘Pride Night’ 

Bible

Christianity

LGBT

Pride Month

San Francisco Giants

A Washington Nationals executive was fired this week after he claimed on a hidden-camera video that an outspoken Christian pitcher was excluded from some of the team&#8217;s promotional content because of his religious views.
The Nationals fired Sean Hudson, its director of community relations, after undercover journalist James O&#8217;Keefe posted a video showing Hudson admit to blacklisting pitcher Trevor Williams from the team&#8217;s social media content.
&#8220;One of our pitchers, Trevor Williams, he is very Catholic,&#8221; Hudson said on the hidden camera video.
The former Nationals executive then provided an example of why he avoided featuring Williams for the team&#8217;s promotional content.
&#8220;The Dodgers had a group out to the stadium who were drag queens who sometimes dressed up as nuns. He went on social media [and wrote], ‘This is wrong. This is my religion. You all are mocking it.&#8217; Because of that, we don&#8217;t use him on social [media],&#8221; Hudson said.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/l-a-dodgers-will-honor-drag-group-mocking-catholics-sisters-of-perpetual-indulgence">condemned</a> by Christians across the country, including multiple MLB players, for inviting the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a drag queen group that mocks Jesus Christ and Christians, to perform at one of their games in 2023.
After Hudson was canned, Washington Nationals President of Business Operations Jason Sinnarajah went on live TV to <a href="https://x.com/JamesOKeefeIII/status/2060560136804954555">apologize</a> to Williams and the team&#8217;s Christian fans for Hudson&#8217;s remarks. He also said Hudson&#8217;s comments were false and &#8220;don&#8217;t reflect us as an organization, our values, who we are.&#8221;
&#8220;We took action right away, and [Hudson] is no longer employed by the team,&#8221; Sinnarajah added.
&#8220;We do not hide players from social media. Even just last week, we featured several players, including Trevor Williams, as part of their visit to the Museum of the Bible,&#8221; Sinnarajah <a href="https://x.com/JamesOKeefeIII/status/2060560136804954555">said</a>.
In the hidden-camera video, Hudson also talked about his disdain for War Secretary Pete Hegseth and said that he prevented some Nationals players from meeting Hegseth after they expressed interest in talking to the top Trump official when he attended a game.
&#8220;We had Pete Hegseth at Space Force Day last year &#8230; and a few players texted me and they were like, &#8216;Is he going to be here after the game? I want to say hi.&#8217; And I&#8217;m like, &#8216;Oh, no he left, he&#8217;s gone, sorry.'&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
BREAKING NEWS: Washington <a href="https://x.com/Nationals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Nationals</a> Director of Community Relations Admits on Hidden Camera to Active Religious Discrimination Against Starting Pitcher Trevor Williams, Surveillance of Nationals Fans’ Google History, and Segregated LGBTQ+ Corporate Meetings to an O’Keefe… <a href="https://t.co/AWqlq6wXV9">pic.twitter.com/AWqlq6wXV9</a>
— James O&#8217;Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) <a href="https://x.com/JamesOKeefeIII/status/2059322421371605039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
One of the team&#8217;s social media stunts that Hudson claimed specifically excluded Williams was a video of Nationals players being asked whether a hot dog is a sandwich. Williams posted a photo on Instagram on Friday that appeared to reference Hudson&#8217;s comment about the hot dog video. The post showed numerous photos, including one that features a hat that reads &#8220;Bad Day to Be a Hot Dog.&#8221;
In the post, Williams also discussed his reading of 1 Peter chapter four and wrote, &#8220;This entire chapter really addresses the social costs of the faith &#8230; As my friend Fr. Joshua said &#8216;Sometimes we lean into it and bravely bear witness to Christ’s truth; sometimes we dodge it and regret it later, feeling we’ve let Jesus down.'&#8221;

Trevor Williams

MLB Exec Fired After He Claimed To Exclude Christian Player From Team’s Social Media

Catholics

Edwin Díaz, the $69 million closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been linked to an alleged illegal cockfighting operation in his native Puerto Rico, according to a report by <a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/horseracing/2026/05/14/jose-ortiz-irad-ortiz-jr-edwin-diaz-illegal-cockfighting/90046603007/">USA Today</a>.
The report, published Friday, tied Díaz to the federally banned blood sport through social media advertisements and promotional materials posted by cockfighting organizations on the island, including graphics showing the three-time All-Star in his Dodgers uniform promoting tournament events. One post reportedly advertised a “tribute” to Díaz, describing him as both a Puerto Rican sports hero and an active cockfighter.
The controversy deepened after a March interview with Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Día resurfaced in which Díaz openly discussed his family’s participation in cockfighting events. According to the outlet, Díaz said his family entered four roosters into a recent tournament and described cockfighting as a hobby he had followed since childhood. 
“It’s a pastime I’ve followed since I was a child,” Díaz reportedly said. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/8yHIUOYXfE">https://t.co/8yHIUOYXfE</a> <a href="https://t.co/OOUCaIo3Lg">pic.twitter.com/OOUCaIo3Lg</a>
— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnderdogMLB/status/2055319645972803714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
Cockfighting has deep historical roots in Puerto Rico, where some residents continue to defend it as a cultural tradition dating back centuries. But that defense has not carried legal weight for years. The practice has been illegal in all U.S. states and territories since 2019, when a federal ban took effect. The Supreme Court later declined to hear a challenge that would have carved out an exception for Puerto Rico.
Federal law makes participation in a cockfight punishable by up to five years in prison and fines, while knowingly attending as a spectator can carry criminal penalties. No charges have been announced against Díaz, and neither the Dodgers nor his representatives responded publicly to the report as of Friday.
The report also mentioned several other prominent Puerto Rican athletes, including champion jockey brothers José Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr., who were allegedly photographed at cockfighting venues and appeared in videos tied to betting activity. Díaz’s younger brother, Alexis Díaz, was also named in social media posts promoting the same events.
For Major League Baseball, the allegations could present an off-field distraction involving a high-profile reliever. MLB’s personal conduct policy gives it broad discretion to investigate players for conduct deemed damaging to the sport, even absent criminal charges. 
The timing is also awkward for Díaz personally. The veteran reliever, who signed a lucrative offseason deal with Los Angeles, is currently sidelined with an elbow injury after a rough start to the season, adding another layer of scrutiny to what was expected to be a routine rehabilitation.

Roosters

Three-Time MLB All-Star Promoted Illegal Cockfighting Events

animal rights

Crime

Los Angeles Dodgers

World

In a blistering new memoir titled &#8220;Moments,&#8221; former Oakland Athletics owner Lew Wolff has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7217540/2026/04/22/athletics-owner-lew-wolff-giants-bay-area-move/">broken his silence</a> on the franchise’s painful departure from the Bay Area. The 90-year-old real estate developer, who served as the team’s public face from 2005 to 2015, points the finger directly at the San Francisco Giants, saying the team’s move is &#8220;100 percent due to the nasty, shameful, and continuing opposition of the Giants.”
Wolff’s central thesis is that the Athletics’ relocation—currently in a transitional phase in Sacramento before a planned move to Las Vegas in 2028—was caused by the Giants&#8217; refusal to relinquish territorial rights to Santa Clara County. Wolff argues that the Giants’ iron grip on San Jose, the Bay Area’s most populous city, stripped the A’s of the leverage needed to secure a viable future in Northern California.
The roots of the animosity date back to 1990, when the A’s—then under the benevolent ownership of the Haas family—granted the Giants the rights to Santa Clara County to help them avoid a move out of state. Wolff contends these rights were conditional on the Giants actually moving to San Jose. When the Giants instead built Oracle Park in San Francisco, Wolff argues the territory should have reverted to shared status.
“The Giants’ position really, really messed us up in trying to even negotiate with Oakland,” Wolff told The Athletic. He described the subsequent MLB blue-ribbon panel, which spent years studying the issue without resolution, as a “cruel joke,” adding, “What I did not realize was that the amazing individuals comprising MLB … attract, employ or have around deceitful and dangerous sycophants. Not all, but some. And these sycophants assassinated the A’s!”
Giants chairman Greg Johnson has countered these claims, stating his responsibility is to protect his organization&#8217;s strength, noting that San Jose represents a massive portion of the Giants&#8217; fan base and revenue.
The current acrimony is the latest chapter in the history of one of baseball’s most nomadic yet storied franchises. Founded in 1901 as a charter member of the American League in Philadelphia, the Athletics were the original AL dynasty. Under legendary manager Connie Mack, who led the team for 50 years, the &#8220;A’s&#8221; won five World Series titles and adopted the &#8220;White Elephant&#8221; as a defiant logo after Giants manager John McGraw dismissed them as a &#8220;useless possession.&#8221;
In 1955, the team moved to Kansas City, an era largely remembered for owner Charlie Finley’s eccentric innovations—such as Kelly Green uniforms and a mule mascot—and a frustrating reputation as a &#8220;farm team&#8221; for the New York Yankees.
The 1968 move to Oakland sparked a modern renaissance. The &#8220;Swingin&#8217; A&#8217;s&#8221; of the 1970s won three consecutive World Series, followed by the &#8220;Bash Brothers&#8221; era of the late 80s and the &#8220;Moneyball&#8221; revolution of the early 2000s.
Yet despite winning nine World Series titles across three cities—trailing only the Yankees and Cardinals—the franchise has been plagued by stadium instability for decades.
Wolff’s memoir serves as a defense of his partner and current owner John Fisher, who has faced intense vilification from the Oakland faithful. While fans like Oakland 68’s president Jorge Leon blame ownership for &#8220;constant rebuilds&#8221; and a lack of investment, Wolff insists that &#8220;apathy&#8221; from local government and the Giants&#8217; &#8220;nasty opposition&#8221; left the club with no choice but to leave.
As the A&#8217;s play out their temporary residency in Sacramento, the wounds in Oakland remain deep. For a franchise born in Philadelphia and forged in the East Bay, the move to the desert represents the end of a 57-year Northern California legacy—one that Wolff insists was sabotaged by the neighbors across the bridge.

MixCollage-23-Apr-2026-09-50-AM-839

‘SHAMEFUL’: Former A’s Owner Blasts Giants For Departure From Bay Area In New Memoir

General

Oakland Athletics

U.S.

It might be a coincidence — or it might not.
The New York Mets are on an 11 game skid since New York mayor Zohran Mamdani hugged the team’s mascot.
An apology seems to be in order.
Forget the Red Sox&#8217; long-dead &#8220;Curse of the Bambino&#8221;—New York has a new, much more bureaucratically efficient disaster: The Mamdani Curse. On April 9, Mayor Zohran Mamdani stepped onto the field and wrapped his arms around Mrs. Met. Since that cold-blooded act of political affection, the Mets have gone 0-11. It’s as if the Mayor’s touch carried the same administrative efficiency he brings to City Hall, successfully grinding a <a href="https://www.wfmd.com/2026/04/18/new-york-mets-500-million-team-has-lost-10-games-in-a-row-after-zohran-mamdani-meeting/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">$507 million engine of hope</a> into a stationary pile of expensive scrap metal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The New York Mets haven&#8217;t won a game since Mr &amp; Mrs Met hugged Zohran Mamdani <a href="https://t.co/VI0zqnoHRt">pic.twitter.com/VI0zqnoHRt</a>
— Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) <a href="https://twitter.com/thehoffather/status/2044420722240729143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Statistically, Mamdani is the most effective defensive player in Major League Baseball history. Since he made contact with the mascot, the Mets have scored a pathetic 1.8 runs per game. He has managed to do what no opposing pitcher could: he neutralized Francisco Lindor, turned Bo Bichette’s bat into a decorative toothpick, and sent the team’s playoff odds off a cliff, plummeting from a confident 89% to an almost certainly too hopefuly 47%.
While the mayor might be used to managing deficits, this 11-game skid is a masterclass in bankruptcy. It takes a special kind of political talent to walk into a stadium and accidentally lobby for a 100% tax on hits, runs, and basic competence. Watching the Mets right now is like watching a city council meeting on a Tuesday morning: long, painful, and ending with everyone wondering where all the money went.
Even when the team tries to fight back, the &#8220;Mamdani Curse&#8221; lingers like a bad zoning law. Against the Cubs, the Mets <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/04/19/sports/mets-drop-11th-straight-in-nightmare-extra-inning-loss-to-cubs/">managed to go</a> 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. They aren&#8217;t just losing; they are failing with the kind of bureaucratic precision that suggests they’ve been ordered to stay in last place by the mayor&#8217;s office.
At this point, an apology may not be enough. For the sake of the city, the mayor needs to be banned from within 500 feet of Citi Field, and Mrs. Met needs to be dipped in holy water.
If Mamdani decides to hug the Statue of Liberty next, New Yorkers should expect the torch to go out and the harbor to freeze over by sunset.
The Mets have 27 outs to work with every game, and thanks to the mayor, they are treating every single one of them like a campaign promise: discarded, forgotten, and leaving the public in tears.

Arizona Diamondbacks v New York Mets

One Moment… Then Disaster. See The Streak Everyone’s Talking About

New York

New York Mets

Zohran Mamdani

A truly heartwarming moment at a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game reminded Americans why baseball has always been America’s game, no matter the numbers.
Jake Mangum of the Pirates saw a young girl in the outfield bleachers wearing his jersey, and tossed the ball into the upper deck where her older brother caught it with his mitt. The young boy then turned and handed it to his sister, hugging her as he did so. Their father, behind them, was as excited as they were.
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Jake Mangum threw this baseball to a young fan &#8230;
The moment that unfolded after will melt your heart 🥹❤️ <a href="https://t.co/ppJSZz3moj">pic.twitter.com/ppJSZz3moj</a>
&mdash; MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/2045953764792701310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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My neice and nephew!!! And he DID make their day!!
&mdash; betsyburgh (@betsy_burgh) <a href="https://twitter.com/betsy_burgh/status/2045968583818195083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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I can confirm!!!! Their dad…..my brother!
&mdash; betsyburgh (@betsy_burgh) <a href="https://twitter.com/betsy_burgh/status/2046029558730621339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
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After the game, an interviewer asked Mangum, “You also created a core memory for a brother-sister duo, it looked like, in the stands, throwing them a ball. As a big brother yourself, what was that moment like?”
“It was cool. Watching the dad’s reaction to their kids catching the ball was really cool. That’s what it’s all about,” he answered.
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Jake creating core memories at the ballpark. 🥹 <a href="https://t.co/8sXwRmfKcB">pic.twitter.com/8sXwRmfKcB</a>
&mdash; Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pirates/status/2045963773706404319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Mangum’s family also has a love and excitement about baseball; his beloved grandparents saved the tickets from his first high school game, on which they wrote, &#8220;On the way to the big league.” His mother framed them and saved them for him.
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When Jake Mangum played his first high school game, his grandparents saved their tickets &amp; wrote &quot;On the way to the big league&quot; on them ✏️🎟️
His mom was able to frame and gift them to Jake following his debut: &quot;If anyone knows my mom, she keeps a lot of stuff.&quot; 😆🥹… <a href="https://t.co/sjUyzmR1I3">pic.twitter.com/sjUyzmR1I3</a>
&mdash; SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNPittsburgh/status/2043809034164113795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
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As New York University president John Sexton wrote in his best-selling book, “Baseball As A Road To God,” “In an age of gigabytes and picoseconds, we tend to live too quickly and to miss much that we might see. Baseball as it turns out, can help us develop the capacity to see through to another, scared space.”
“I don&#8217;t have to tell you that the one constant through all the years has been baseball,” W.P. Kinsella wrote in “Shoeless Joe,” later filmed as &#8220;Field of Dreams.&#8221; “America has been erased like a blackboard, only to be rebuilt and then erased again. But baseball has marked time while America has rolled by like a procession of steamrollers.”
Famed Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda noted, “There are only two seasons—winter and baseball. And when baseball comes, families come together.”
The Chicago Cubs&#8217; beloved Hall-of-Famer Ernie Banks enthused, “The only thing better than baseball is sharing it with someone you love.”
&#8220;Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too,” Yankees legend Yogi Berra declared.
As legendary Hall-of-Famer Rogers Hornsby noted, &#8220;People ask me what I do in winter when there&#8217;s no baseball. I&#8217;ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.&#8221;

MLB: APR 08 Padres at Pirates

WATCH: Heartwarming Moment With Pirates Player And Kids Reminds Us Baseball Is Still America’s Game

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The baseball world is reeling from the sudden loss of a true cornerstone. Garret Anderson, the left-handed maestro of the Anaheim outfield whose quiet dignity and lethal bat defined the most successful era in Angels history, passed away Friday at the age of 53. The club confirmed the news, plunging the organization and its fanbase into a state of mourning for a man whose professionalism was as consistent as his line-drive swing.
&#8220;The Angels organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” Angels owner Arte Moreno <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/garret-anderson-dies">stated</a>. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship.&#8221;
To honor their all-time leader in nearly every major offensive category, the Angels will wear a memorial patch for the remainder of the season.
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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Angels Hall of Famer Garret Anderson. 
Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to… <a href="https://t.co/RyF5qa7OPE">pic.twitter.com/RyF5qa7OPE</a>
&mdash; Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) <a href="https://twitter.com/Angels/status/2045169256971870685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Anderson’s journey from a fourth-round pick out of Granada Hills Kennedy High in 1990 to a franchise deity was marked by a &#8220;calmness&#8221; that bordered on the supernatural. While other stars craved the spotlight, Anderson was content to &#8220;just hit.&#8221;
And the sheer volume of that hitting remains staggering. By the time he retired in 2011, he had amassed 2,529 career hits and 1,365 RBIs over 17 seasons. Within the Angels organization alone, he remains the undisputed king of longevity and production, holding franchise records for games played (2,013), at-bats (7,989), runs scored (1,024), extra-base hits (796), and total bases (3,743).
He first burst onto the scene in 1995, finishing as the AL Rookie of the Year runner-up after slashing .321/.352/.505. Early in his career, teammates compared his fluid mobility to Ken Griffey Jr., though Anderson characteristically brushed off the praise, preferring to focus on the blue-collar aspects of the game. He would go on to record seven seasons with a batting average over .300, finishing his career with a lifetime .293 mark.
His apex came in the early 2000s when he evolved into one of the premier doubles hitters in the history of the American League. In 2002, he led the Major Leagues with 56 doubles, and he followed that up in 2003 by leading the AL again with 49. During that legendary 2003 campaign, he achieved a rare feat, joining Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. as the only players to win the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game MVP in the same season.
Yet, for all the regular-season accolades — including a historic 10-RBI game against the Yankees in 2007 where he became one of only 16 players in MLB history to reach that plateau — Anderson’s legacy is forever tethered to Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. After facing minor criticism for a defensive lapse earlier in the series, Anderson silenced the detractors when the stakes were highest. With the bases loaded in the third inning, he lined a three-run double into the right-field corner. Those three runs provided the margin in a 4-1 victory, delivering the Angels their only World Series title to date.
Anderson finished his career with 287 home runs and 489 doubles in an Angels uniform, totals that sit second and first in club history, respectively. Upon his induction into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2016, he reflected on a career he viewed as a &#8220;privilege.&#8221; He remained a private man, often retreating to the quiet company of his family — his wife Teresa and their three children — while others chased the raucous celebrations of fame.
Today, that quiet has turned into a profound silence across the Big A, as fans remember the man who didn&#8217;t need to shout to be a giant.
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Garret Anderson, who played 15 seasons for the Angels and finished as one of the all-time greats in franchise history, has died at the age of 53.

The ‘Stoic Icon’ Of Anaheim: Angels Legend Garret Anderson Passes Away At 53

Death

The smell of cracker jacks fills the air and the sound of bats cracking can be heard all across the United States, because it is Opening Day for America&#8217;s Pastime. Major League Baseball is kicking off the season in patriotic fashion with a league-wide campaign to celebrate 250 years of the United States.
All season, the Major League Baseball will recognize this milestone by accumulating 250,000 collective volunteer hours in 2026 across all 30 MLB clubs and other extensions of the league as part of the &#8220;MLB Together&#8221; initiative.
MLB is a partner of America250, the official nonpartisan organization established by Congress to lead the nation’s 250th anniversary commemoration.
&#8220;MLB Together represents the very best of what our sport means to our fans and our communities,&#8221; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. &#8220;Baseball’s ability to bring people together through common values and causes has placed the game in a unique stature within our culture. We look forward to working with our Clubs, partners, and fans in making meaningful changes in our society through the MLB Together platform.&#8221;
250,000 hours is a challenge, but former players got a start earlier in March by participating in a beach cleanup in Miami ahead of the World Baseball Classic final. Volunteers joined players — including Michael Bourn and Scott Kazmir — removed debris and trash from the shoreline of Miami Beach.
It&#8217;s fitting that baseball is playing a role in celebrating America&#8217;s 250th birthday since the sport has been part of the nation&#8217;s culture since the 1800s. In addition to logging the 250,000 volunteer hours across the league, teams will display a &#8220;USA 250&#8221; on their jerseys through the July 4th games — and during the MLB All-Star Game, which takes place in America&#8217;s birthplace, Philadelphia.
The midsummer event returns to Philly, where the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago. This year&#8217;s game is the first time Citizens Bank Park will host the event since opening in 2004. The game has been held in Philadelphia four times in the past, one of which was held at Veterans Stadium for the nation&#8217;s Bicentennial in 1976.
Opening Day 2026 features some powerhouse pitching matchups with Pirates ace Paul Skenes facing off against Mets slinger Freddy Peralta.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-proudest-ive-ever-been-wearing-a-jersey-is-the-usa-jersey-paul-skenes-is-americas-ace">&#8216;The Proudest I’ve Ever Been Wearing A Jersey Is The USA Jersey&#8217;: Paul Skenes Is America’s Ace</a>
Other Thursday games to watch include the World Champion Dodgers beginning their journey toward a three-peat when they take on the Diamondbacks. The Mariners and Guardians compete in a battle of the 2025 division winners in Seattle.
The 162-game season leaves little time for players to have free time, but the MLB&#8217;s commitment to celebrating America will be felt every time players and coaches log their volunteer hours to hit the overall volunteer goal.
Fans can get involved too by <a href="https://www.mlb.com/mlb-together/america-250">signing up</a> to volunteer alongside their favorite players.

Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Opening Day 2026 Kicks Off A Patriotic Season For America’s Pastime

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News

Team USA is heading to the finals of the World Baseball Classic after a gritty win over a stacked Dominican Republic squad Sunday, and Paul Skenes couldn&#8217;t be happier leading the charge for his country in what he calls his &#8220;proudest&#8221; moment.
&#8220;The proudest I’ve ever been wearing a jersey is the USA jersey,&#8221; Skenes told <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/paul-skenes-talks-representing-usa-rare-interview-a-rod-its-different-level">Alex Rodriguez</a> in a sit-down interview ahead of the win over the DR. &#8220;You’re playing for a whole lot more. It’s great to play for a city, great to play for Pittsburgh in the regular season, but playing for your country, it’s a different level.&#8221;
Skenes is arguably a generational baseball talent, and while he shines on the diamond, he&#8217;s never shied away from his love of country.
The Pittsburgh Pirates ace once thought he would be flying fighter jets in the United States Air Force. The Cy Young winner, an award for the best MLB pitcher, was fresh out of high school when he took an oath to put his life on the line for our country. Even after Skenes was the overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the MLB Rookie of the Year, and already a Cy Young award winner, he says taking that military oath is still &#8220;one of the highlights&#8221; of his life.
&#8220;I got the chills reciting that pledge just from how proud I am of this country,&#8221; Skenes penned in a letter published by <a href="https://www.theplayerstribune.com/paul-skenes-mlb-baseball-pittsburgh-pirates-wbc-usa">The Players&#8217; Tribune</a> ahead of the international baseball tournament. &#8220;I’m actually getting chills right now remembering back to that time. Because when you love something so much that you’re willing to lay down your life for it? It’s pretty meaningful stuff.&#8221;
He played the first two years of his college career at the Air Force Academy before transferring to LSU, where he won a National Championship. But during his time wearing both an Air Force serviceman uniform and baseball uniform, Skenes said he developed the skills that have made him into the pitcher and person he is today.
&#8220;I truly believe that regardless of what you’re doing, if you want to accomplish great things and be the best version of yourself, you’re going to have to work extremely hard — be disciplined, focused,&#8221; Skenes said. &#8220;I’m pretty sure that if I hadn’t put in that time at the Academy, I probably would&#8217;ve spent a lot more time in the minors than I did. So I’m incredibly grateful.&#8221;
His military background is why playing on Team USA is such an honor.
&#8220;I was never deployed myself, but I know how much pride those individuals take in wearing that uniform with your name on the right side of your chest and the U.S. Air Force or Army lettering on the left side … because that’s what you put over your heart,&#8221; Skenes said, adding that the players putting on the red, white, and blue aren&#8217;t doing it for the fame or money, but to simply represent their country.
&#8220;Our team, we’re not cadets or anything like that. (These hairstyles would never fly). But everyone on this team … we all understand that when you put on those colors, you’re not just playing baseball, you’re representing something deeper,&#8221; Skenes said. &#8220;When you’re watching us in this tournament, we hope you feel that too.&#8221;
Skenes set the all-time record for most strikeouts at seven by a Team USA pitcher at the World Baseball Classic in his first appearance in the tourney. In the biggest test of the WBC, Skenes went 4.1 innings and gave up one run, a first-inning homer to Junior Caminero. Skenes got two strikeouts in the win over the previously undefeated Team DR filled with MLB all-stars including Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Skenes, aside from his Players&#8217; Tribune letter, is a man of few words — still after Sunday&#8217;s win, Skenes explained the significance of the semi-final victory, calling the Team DR lineup &#8220;the toughest lineup&#8221; he&#8217;s ever faced.
Now Team USA awaits the winner of Monday&#8217;s semifinal between Venezuela and Italy before taking the field one last time on Tuesday in the WBC Final.
Team USA entered the tournament as the favorites to bring home the hardware, and entering the finals, Skenes&#8217; mindset isn&#8217;t focused on adding another trophy to his case — but winning to honor the real heroes of the United States.
&#8220;Our servicemen and women don’t have the luxury of losing, it’s not really an option for them,&#8221; Skenes said. &#8220;We’re not going to war, but [this] is what we do in America: we fight and we win. That’s our responsibility.&#8221;

Credit: Daily Wire Staff/Kelly Gavin/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images

‘The Proudest I’ve Ever Been Wearing A Jersey Is The USA Jersey’: Paul Skenes Is America’s Ace

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U.S. Military

World Baseball Classic

Former MLB All-Star and longtime New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira has won the Republican primary in Texas’ 21st Congressional District, vaulting from the batter&#8217;s box to the ballot box and setting up one of the cycle’s most interesting stories.
Teixeira, who spent five seasons with the Texas Rangers before becoming a central piece of the Yankees’ last World Series championship run 16 years ago, leaned heavily into his biography throughout the primary. Campaigning as a political outsider with executive experience from his post-playing business ventures, he emphasized fiscal discipline, border security, and what he described as a need to restore competitive accountability to Washington.
On <a href="https://teixeiraforcongress.com/issues/">policy</a>, Teixeira has aligned himself with mainstream Republican priorities. He has called for extending the Trump-era tax cuts, reducing federal spending, and reining in what he characterizes as regulatory overreach on small businesses. 
In a district that stretches from parts of Austin to the Hill Country and into San Antonio’s northern suburbs, he has also made border enforcement a central plank, backing increased funding for border patrol personnel and physical barriers, and <a href="https://x.com/teixeiramark25/status/2009364216604655769">saying</a> “I stand with ICE” after the shooting of anti-ICE activist Renee Good. 
Teixeira has struck a familiar tone on energy, supporting expanded domestic oil and gas production, while criticizing the Biden administration. On social issues, he has framed himself as a cultural conservative, backing parental rights in education and restrictions on late-term abortion, positions that helped consolidate GOP primary voters.
The seat was vacated by Chip Roy, who decided to run for Texas Attorney General in 2026.
He will face the Democratic nominee Kristin Hook, who was a policy fellow for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in November. Hook was the Democratic nominee in 2024 as well, before <a href="https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/results/texas/us-house-district-21">losing </a>to the incumbent Roy by 25 points. 
The 21st District was once safely Republican but has trended closer amid demographic shifts and suburban realignment. While Republicans retain a structural advantage, Democrats have invested heavily here in past cycles, and national groups are expected to monitor the race closely.
Teixeira enters the general election with strong name recognition, a useful commodity for a first-time candidate, and the ability to self-fund or tap into national donor networks cultivated during his playing career in New York and Texas. That celebrity factor could cut both ways: it energizes casual voters but invites scrutiny about policy depth and political durability. 
Still, if his primary victory is any indication, Republican voters are willing to give the former slugger a shot at November glory for the first time in many years.

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