Hats Off

It is now September 12th. The mourning, tributes, and moments of silence will have to wait another year for most. Though for the victims, the families of the victims, and those in and around the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, the remembrance is year round. A small token here and there can change a person’s outlook. It can take feelings of sadness to pride and feelings of hatred to feelings of unity.

But Major League Baseball chose money over tribute. The cash registers were ringing in the heads of MLB executives when they once again (they tried this when the Mets returned to play in 2001) told players, the Mets players especially, they could not wear first responder hats. That while they could wear them during pre-game, they were obligated to wear the New Era hats that the entire league was wearing. That even though this was a team, much like the Yankees who were on the road, representative of New York’s loss and recovery, they could not put down the New Era brand for one day ten years after the last time it was done.

Today the world can go back to capitalism personified. Baseball, New Era, and all other profiteering organizations can seize any opportunity they want to make a dollar today. But yesterday was not about money or contracts. Yesterday was not about exposure or marketing. It was about tribute.

Major League Baseball failed in that respect. Bud Selig failed in that respect. Joe Torre failed in that respect. And they should all be ashamed.