MLB ” As an ever-evolving game of adjustments, baseball is seeing another — this one led by its players.
While baseball was on hold and bigger issues, namely the fight for social justice, became a part of the national conversation, a number of behind-the-scenes discussions began among a group of Black Major Leaguers. While several of these players had already put their time, money and resources toward different causes, they realized this moment might be an opportunity to create something bigger collectively.
As a result, The Players Alliance was formed.
On Wednesday night, Alliance members and founders CC Sabathia, Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson, Dee Gordon and Cameron Maybin joined MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds for a 90-minute virtual discussion entitled “MLB Tonight: A Conversation” to share their thoughts on the game, their program initiatives and offer insight into what they hope to accomplish. The event also included guest appearances from former big leaguers Willie Randolph, Bo Porter and Bobby Scales; collegiate baseball coaches Roger Cador and Edwin Thompson; front office members Danny Montgomery and Steve Williams; and MLB vice president of baseball and softball development Tony Reagins.
“These conversations have been had for years,” Granderson said. “And now, with everybody finally getting a chance to slow down and stop, we [thought] now we can collectively bring our voices together and really go out there and make change.
“The guys on this call, plus the 120 members of The Players Alliance, have collectively over the past five years alone contributed over $40 million of our own money to our home communities, to the cities we play in, to the areas that don’t have Major League Baseball to bring the game to them, to introduce it to them, to keep it fun. That’s where The Players Alliance had started, and we’ll continue to keep moving forward.”
