A minor league baseball team forfeited its scheduled game tonight, June 18.
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The reason for taking the L? Some players have refused to wear the Pride Night-themed jerseys.
Which Baseball Team Is Forfeiting?
In a statement released yesterday, the York Revolution shared that tonight's game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs is canceled.
The team, which plays at WellSpan Park in York, Pennsylvania, expressed its "great disappointment" over the decision. The game was to coincide with the team's 11th Annual Pride Night event.
"This decision was not reached lightly," the statement read. "Unfortunately, several of our players have refused to wear the scheduled Pride Night jersey, and the club decided that hosting the event is more important than forcing players to wear jerseys they are not comfortable with and playing the game."
It added, "To be clear, this action by the players is completely inconsistent with our vision as the Most Welcoming Place in York."
The Pride Night event will still take place at the ballpark this evening with music and on-field batting practice. The team is also making a $10,000 donation to York's Rainbow Rose Center. The reason for the contribution is to ensure "the York community is as inclusive as we strive to make WellSpan Park in York, Pennsylvania."
Tickets can be redeemed for a future game.
The Organization Says It Is "Disappointed"
The Rainbow Rose Center responded to the forfeit with a
statement of its own."This situation has been difficult for many members of the LGBTQIA+ community, our supporters, and our organization," it read. "While we are disappointed that circumstances led to this outcome, we appreciate the York Revolution's commitment to ensuring that Pride in the Park will still take place."
The statement went on, adding, "For more than a decade, this event has represented far more than a baseball game. It has been a celebration of visibility, belonging, and community. It has brought together thousands of people from across our region and raised critical funds that support the Rainbow Rose Center's work serving LGBTQIA+ youth, adults, families, and allies throughout York County."
This news comes after several players from the San Francisco Giants added Bible verses to their caps during the team's Pride Night last week. Some players chose not to wear the themed cap at all.
Major League Baseball then told players that writing on the caps violates league policy. It clarified that the issue is not with the message's content but with modifying the cap itself
