MLB Says "NO" to Nationals Tribute to Military

[Allie Fox]

from ThePostGame via Yahoo! Sports:

MLB's Controversial Decision To Stop Nats From Wearing Military Tribute Hats

The Washington Nationals, who play their home games just down the street from the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol, wanted to wear special hats with military insignias during their game with the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night. This was the Nats' first home game since 30 soldiers riding in a helicopter were killed in Afghanistan on August 6th. But Commissioner Bud Selig's top executives stopped it from happening.

I have a pet peeve of players (and managers and coaches, I'm looking at you Terry Francona) wearing their uniforms properly. I know there is a rule about uniforms and such but special permission can be granted in certain cases.

Didn't some of the Mets wear FDNY/ NYPD/ PAPD hats for the remainder of the 2001 season after September 11th despite being fined?


I'm not sure what the deal is here.

[Blackout]

the FDNY/NYPD don't engage themselves in wars, just policing and putting out fires and the occasion grabbing a cat from a tree routine.

I agree with the movement, why show support of a war we have no part in?

[quagmire]

Because whether we agree with the war or not, we should still support our troops. Our troops should never lose our support.

[Blackout]

Because whether we agree with the war or not, we should still support our troops. Our troops should never lose our support.

when has America ever been supportive of it's soldiers? ask Vietnam vets, who didn't CHOOSE to even go

[EdTarbusz]

I agree with MLBs decision. I think they were probably looking at their Uniform policies and whatever contracts the Nationals have with their uniform suppliers.

It seems to me that most of MLBs attempt to show so some patriotism fall flat and that this is no exception. I think that professional athletes wanting to wear military insignia trivializes rather than supports the troops.

[doctor_gogol]

Because whether we agree with the war or not, we should still support our troops.

OK, but 1st tell me what that means. What does it mean to "support the troops"?


Military hats are for the military, not for baseball players.

[EdTarbusz]

OK, but 1st tell me what that means. What does it mean to "support the troops"?


Military hats are for the military, not for baseball players.

I would really hate to see those hats turn in MLB gift shops.

[Cubsfan97]

If they cant wear those, why not just wear the Memorial Day/4th of July hats?

[CandlestickBum]

nevermind....

[dgarza]

Didn't some of the Mets wear FDNY/ NYPD/ PAPD hats for the remainder of the 2001 season after September 11th despite being fined?

Maybe.

But that's just it... MLB can say "no" and it's up to the team and/or players to follow that decision. If they don't, they could expect penalties. They can still physically do it, just understand that there might be consequences.

[dgarza]

ask Vietnam vets, who didn't CHOOSE to even go

Some did; some didn't. What makes you think the US had no military and everybody had to be drafted?

[dgarza]

I'm thinking that any alternative uniforms/caps/helmets would have to still be "official" MLB uniforms, which probably means they would still need to have some team identification and some some MLB logo incorporated into the articles of clothing. This would require a whole redesign of the retail available military caps. Even the Padres camouflage (mentioned in the article) incorporate Padres and MLB identification. They are unique to MLB.

I also wonder if MLB would be wary about just 1 team sporting military caps. It could suggest to some people that the other teams did not support the military. It could be a PR thing.

[ol' aches and pains]

I think we all "support the troops", whether we agree with the war or not. But MLB teams wearing military hats is inevitably going to start political arguments, and I for one don't want them to go there. Baseball should be a politics-free zone. I would exempt the 2001 Mets from this, I completely support their decision to wear the FDNY hats after 9/11, but not this latest ploy. As Ed mentioned, they would probably sell the damned things online and in the gift shop.

[Imgran]

[CandlestickBum]

<SNIP PICTURE>

So Ingram, a reasonable person would then recogize that MLB is likely distinguishing the difference between regular, official alternate jerserys, and a one time "special tribute" caps. I would expect special tribute caps for Teachers, nurses, ER workers, cute kittens and pretty little ponies would also be turned down.

[BigRon]

Baseball would be wise to stay away from any kind of military uniform likenesses, logos, etc. There are many better ways to respect/honor our troops. This from a Vietnam vet.

[Allie Fox]

Whoever it was that said "it trivializes" the contribution of the troops. . . was somewhat on point with how I feel about it. Especially if said caps, jerseys, etc. end up in gift shops. I feel similarly about the Jackie Robinson "42" uniforms. It just seems cheeky.

Ironically I didn't feel the same with the Mets wearing the NY Public Service caps.

[EdTarbusz]

The only example that I've ever seen of players wearing actual military insignia on their baseball uniforms was in 1945 when several returning veterans wore ruptured duck patches. According to Dressed to the Nines three Cubs and two Yankees wore these patches.

[Blackout]

Some did; some didn't. What makes you think the US had no military and everybody had to be drafted?

ever hear of draft dodgers

[CandlestickBum]

Some did; some didn't. What makes you think the US had no military and everybody had to be drafted?

You don't know your history. The Marines were forced, against their better judgement to take draftees during this period. The majority of combat troops were draftees. The smart ones joined the Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force or if they could, could volunteer for the Army with a MOS and assignment that assured no line combat. Very few other than officer candidates volunteered during this period.

[EdTarbusz]

About 25% of the American forces in Vietnam were draftees.

[GiambiJuice]

It's bad enough that we have to sit throught God Bless America at every game. I dont ever want to see ballplayers in military uniforms. Baseball, religion, politics. Three things that should never mix.

[CandlestickBum]

About 25% of the American forces in Vietnam were draftees.

And about 15-20% of American forces are combat troops. Filling up the rest, you got your Navy, Air Force and all that support structure who in the main are specialists of one type or another. US prefers to put it's untrained solders on the line. Still that way mostly. There were people volunteering for Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard for obvious reasons. And they upped their requirements as a result, they didn't take everyone. IIRC a draftee would do 2 years in the Army, to volunteer for the AF you enlisted for 4 and had to pass an aptitude test.

That's why draftees were overrepresented in combat units.

[dgarza]

ever hear of draft dodgers

I'm not going to be the one labeling draft dodgers as "vets". I'd guess they wouldn't either. You do as you please.

[dgarza]

And about 15-20% of American forces are combat troops. Filling up the rest, you got your Navy, Air Force and all that support structure who in the main are specialists of one type or another. US prefers to put it's untrained solders on the line. Still that way mostly. There were people volunteering for Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard for obvious reasons. And they upped their requirements as a result, they didn't take everyone. IIRC a draftee would do 2 years in the Army, to volunteer for the AF you enlisted for 4 and had to pass an aptitude test.

That's why draftees were overrepresented in combat units.

I don't care what branch a person served in, they are still all veterans. Some were volunteers and some were not. It was not all one way or the other. It was a mix. You can argue what percentages that mix was, but it was still a healthy mix. That's all my point was.