FDR saved baseball from ending, but Landis kept him out of Hall
Former Republican speechwriter cites bias of ‘deeply conservative’ Landis against FDR
When the U.S. entered World War II, many Americans wanted to shut down baseball. The ballplayers should be soldiers, it was said. America should focus on war, not fun and games. But President Franklin Roosevelt felt otherwise. He wrote Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis to say he wanted baseball to go on because “it’s good for our people at home and it’s of benefit to our millions of men overseas.” Curt Smith, former speechwriter for President George H. W. Bush and also a baseball historian, contends in his book, The Presidents and the Pastime, that despite petitions by many Americans to induct FDR into the Hall of Fame, he was kept out because of the bias of “deeply conservative” commissioner Landis. “To posthumously induct FDR now would be a great and good thing for the Veterans Committee to do.” Smith said on Book TV. “Franklin Roosevelt saved baseball.”
Between the Lines: Smith speculates that if Major League Baseball had been out of business for four years, it might not have come back. Stadiums would be in ruins, farm systems destroyed, owners facing bankruptcy.
MLB lifts its ‘lifetime’ ban on Mets’ Jennry Mejia after just two years
It was supposed to be three strikes and you’re out. In 2015 Jennry Mejia, pitcher for the New York Mets, failed his third drug test by Major League Baseball and thus incurred a lifetime ban. But at 28 he has been reinstated and will be allowed to play in the big leagues for the 2019 season. Commissioner Rob Manfred cited “contrition, “regret” and “commitment to comply” as factors in lifting the ban.
Between the Lines: In 2014, Mejia’s last full season with the Mets, he pitched in 63 games and had a 6-6 record and 3.65 ERA. Yes, the Mets can use him.
Gurley warns of NFL players strike in 2021
NFL players have long complained of contracts that are not guaranteed against injury. Playing one of the world’s most dangerous sports, many athletes see their careers ended before they’ve attained financial security. Todd Gurley, All-Pro running back, told CBS Sports that the players are likely to strike in 2021 unless a new collective bargaining agreement provides guaranteed contracts for all players. “We definitely gotta fix this situation.” Gurley said. “Because there’s no excuse for a C level player in the NBA to get paid as much as the best running back in the NFL or the best receiver in the NFL.” Gurley is not alone in demanding fully guaranteed contracts. Other NFL stars, Richard Sherman and Russell Okung, have said the players must “demand” change. Some agents for the players have urged them to save money in preparation for a work stoppage in three years.
Dear Todd: NFL players have the right to negotiate fully guaranteed contracts, as Kirk Cousins did. The problem here may be with agents not insisting on more protection for their clients.
NFL offers reduced PED suspensions if offenders snitch on others
Players who are caught violating the NFL’s drug policy are sometimes offered a reduced sentence if they provide information that leads to suspensions for other players. ProFootball Talk reported that the NFL Management Council may reduce a sentence by up to 50% if the player provides assistance “which results in the finding of an additional violation of the Policy by another player, coach, trainer or other person subject to this Policy.” Responding to this report, Philadelphia Eagles tackle Lane Johnson, who twice has been suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs, tweeted: “No snitching.” Michael Irvin, Hall of Fame receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, admitted that when he began playing for Jimmy Johnson he “snitched on the guys who need to go.” Irvin later had his own drug issues.
Between the Lines: If a player found out that a teammate had snitched on him, that would be the end of team unity.