The mid-summer classic will not march into Georgia this year. Major League Baseball (MLB), caving to pressure from the President of the United States and other liberals, is pulling the All-Star Game from Atlanta, GA.
“Over the last week, we have engaged in thoughtful conversations with Clubs, former and current players, the Players Association, and The Players Alliance, among others, to listen to their views,” Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. said in a statement posted on the organization’s website. “I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game and MLB Draft.”
The game will still honor the late Henry “Hank” Aaron who played for the Milwaukee Braves from 1954 to 1965, the Atlanta Braves from 1966 to 1974, and the Milwaukee Brewers in 1975 and 1976.
MLB is not moving the game because of the Atlanta Braves’ name, logo, or even use of the “tomahawk chant” by the fans during games.
The protest is over recent changes in election laws in Georgia. Among the changes, voter identification requirements for absentee ballots are tightened up, mobile voting buses are prohibited, and it’s now illegal to provide free food and drink to voters waiting in line. On the other hand, the law codifies early voting drop boxes, allows clerks to pre-process absentee ballots for up to two weeks before an election, and pushes back the deadline for applying for an absentee ballot to allow more time for the applications to be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.
(Business Insider has a complete description of the election law changes.)
The changes, while hardly draconian, have been attacked by Democrats as “voter suppression” and by President Joe Biden as the return of Jim Crow. The Washington Post recently criticized Biden for lying about the effects of the law when the president claimed that it would reduce the hours for voting. In fact, it would actually expand hours for voting in rural areas.
The change in the law banning giving food and drink to voters has received the most attention, even as it is commonly enforced in other states – including Wisconsin. In 2012, Wisconsin Democrats accused the Romney/Ryan presidential campaign of attempting to bribe voters when they gave supporters sandwiches from a Cousins Subs right next door to the Waukesha Republican Party headquarters. Democrats were accused of a similar alleged election violation in 2011 when a liberal organization held a pair of BBQ get-out-the-vote events in Milwaukee.
Any number of food and drink Election Day giveaways are already possibly in violation of federal law, so the worst that can be said about the change in state law in Georgia is that the ban on food and drink is redundant.
However, if MLB is determined to give in to the hysteria and move the All-Star game, and if it is still planned to honor Aaron, let’s bring the game to Milwaukee.
It would be justice after the debacle of the 2002 All-Star game ending in a tie, a game that shall be forever remembered in infamy. Democrats who opposed the game being played in Georgia should support the game being moved to Milwaukee after the Democratic National Convention fizzle in 2020. And with the roof, baseball will not have to worry about a rain delay or postponement.
Besides, what better way to honor Aaron than by bringing the game to Milwaukee where his career began? Would there be a better spokesman to emcee the pre-game ceremony than Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker, who actually played with Aaron and was his friend?
When Aaron died in January, Governor Tony Evers’ Administration dropped the ball when they didn’t order flags to be lowered statewide to honor the baseball and civic leader. Wisconsin leaders should jump at the chance to honor Aaron now and bring the economic benefits of the All-Star Game to Milwaukee.
It’s a win-win, even if Major League Baseball is being stupid in giving into the latest “controversy.” And when a “controversy” comes up next year and Baseball needs to move their All-Star game again, we’ll be here, roof open or closed as needed.
Update 4/2/21 5:48 PM
Urban Milwaukee is reporting Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has sent a letter to MLB asking that the All-Star Game be moved to American Family Field:
“As you review alternative sites for the game, I ask you to consider Milwaukee,” wrote Mayor Tom Barrett in a letter to Manfred. “It is a particularly appropriate location to honor Hank Aaron who is a revered and beloved former Milwaukeean. He started and concluded his Major League career with teams here.”
