Baseball

Esteury Ruiz playing baseball

Oakland Has 2 New Baseball Heroes—and a Billionaire Owner Ruining Everything Oakland Has 2 New Baseball Heroes—and a Billionaire Owner Ruining Everything

Outfielders Esteury Ruiz and Brent Rooker stood with their fans against a planned move to Las Vegas. They were punished, and the owner is pulling the team from Oakland early.

Apr 5, 2024 / Dave Zirin

Video screen shows Ohtani speaking at press conference

Online Gambling Has Swallowed Professional Sports Online Gambling Has Swallowed Professional Sports

Sports leagues partnered with legal gambling operations to fill their coffers. The deals are bringing in millions, but now they threaten to undermine what makes sports special.

Mar 27, 2024 / Dave Zirin

Democrats Should Not Underestimate Steve Garvey

Democrats Should Not Underestimate Steve Garvey Democrats Should Not Underestimate Steve Garvey

The former baseball star wants to fill Dianne Feinstein’s Senate seat in California, and his celebrity status might just give him a chance.

Oct 18, 2023 / Editorial / Peter Dreier and Kelly Candaele

Former Washington Nationals player Sean Doolittle pitching

Sean Doolittle, Baseball’s Left-Wing Lefty, Retires Sean Doolittle, Baseball’s Left-Wing Lefty, Retires

How the Nationals’ star reliever became the conscience of baseball.

Oct 6, 2023 / Peter Dreier

Esteury Ruiz of the Oakland Athletics

The Oakland A’s Are Moving to Vegas. Could the Yankees Be Next? The Oakland A’s Are Moving to Vegas. Could the Yankees Be Next?

For MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, everything—and including your favorite team—has a price.

Apr 21, 2023 / Dave Zirin

Houston Astros shortstop Alex Bregman hits a grand slam home run

Want World Peace? Ban the Home Run. Want World Peace? Ban the Home Run.

The dream of the game-changing home run has shaped our approach to so much, from sports to geopolitics—most significantly, our ability to solve problems through reason and diplomac...

Oct 20, 2022 / Robert Lipsyte

San Francisco Giants player Barry Bonds in 1997, and New York Yankees player Aaron Judge in 2017.

Aaron Judge Is Great—but Don’t Erase Barry Bonds Aaron Judge Is Great—but Don’t Erase Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds is not regarded as the home run king, but he should be. 

Oct 5, 2022 / Dave Zirin

The Savannah Bananas cheer on the field before their Minor League Baseball game.

Victory! Minor League Baseball Players Are Finally Unionized. Victory! Minor League Baseball Players Are Finally Unionized.

Thanks to grassroots organizing, which much of the media is ignoring, minor leaguers will now join the Major League Players Association.

Sep 15, 2022 / Dave Zirin

The Tampa Bay Rays, Pride, and the Perils of Corporate Branding

The Tampa Bay Rays, Pride, and the Perils of Corporate Branding The Tampa Bay Rays, Pride, and the Perils of Corporate Branding

The refusal of five Tampa Bay Rays to wear the Pride flag should raise questions about strategies in the struggle for LGBTQ rights.

Jun 8, 2022 / Edge of Sports / Dave Zirin

When “Jackie Robinson” Is Used as a Racial Slur

When “Jackie Robinson” Is Used as a Racial Slur When “Jackie Robinson” Is Used as a Racial Slur

What happened at Yankee Stadium is not about one incident. It’s about how Major League Baseball chooses to remember Robinson’s legacy.

May 24, 2022 / Dave Zirin

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