Major League Baseball (MLB) returned on Thursday night to deserted stadiums and players wearing masks during the National Anthem. The league also honored the Black Lives Matter movement — in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, players held onto a long, black piece of fabric and kneeled.
While the players stood holding the ribbon, Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman said in a pre-recorded message to the players, “This moment signifies our charge, our brotherhood, our unity. Equality and unity cannot be until there is empathy. Today and every day, we come together as brothers, as equals, all with the same goal: to level the playing field, to change the injustices.”
The announcer continued, “Today we stand as men from twenty-five nations on six continents. Today, we are one.”
Today, and every day, we come together as brothers. As equals, all with the same goal – to level the playing field. To change the injustices. Equality is not just a word. It’s our right!
— MLB (@MLB) July 23, 2020
Today we stand as men from 25 nations on 6 continents.
Today, we are one. pic.twitter.com/vKUGdRfwgQ
On the pitcher’s mound, the Major League Baseball logo was painted with the letters “BLM” beneath the logo rather than “MLB.”
"Today, we are one." pic.twitter.com/fqH8NkJm8A
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 24, 2020
In Washington, the season kicked off with a familiar face: a masked Dr. Anthony Fauci threw the first pitch. And while Fauci may be the nation’s foremost expert on infectious diseases, he sparked reactions to his pitch.
Dr. Fauci might not be able to throw a strike, but he’s still a National medical hero during the #COVID19 pandemic ! #Fauci #mlb https://t.co/5gwEKtmIVu
— Alison Mastrangelo (@AlisonWSB) July 23, 2020
President Donald Trump is a vocal baseball fan but he might not have been pleased to see that some of the players knelt during the National Anthem on Opening Day.
Trump has frequently blasted the players who kneel during the anthem to protest police violence against the Black community.
In a mid-June tweet, Trump replied to a tweet by Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) attacking US Soccer for allowing players to kneel during the anthem. Trump wrote, “And it looks like the NFL is heading in that direction also, but not with me watching.”
And it looks like the NFL is heading in that direction also, but not with me watching! https://t.co/aGfBaK7RNA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2020
The commander-in-chief will soon be on the field himself. On Thursday he said that he will be throwing the ceremonial first pitch in Yankee Stadium on August 15, though the seats will be empty as the MLB plays without fans during the coronavirus pandemic.