Latest news with #Manfred
New York Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Rob Manfred calls MLB's decision to reinstate Pete Rose ‘overdue'
Rob Manfred defended his choice to reinstate Pete Rose, 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson and other deceased banned players. Manfred, who made the decision May 13 after removing them from the permanently ineligible list, explained his reasoning behind the reinstatement during a Thursday interview on 'CBS Mornings,' saying that it was 'overdue.' 'I would say three things,' Manfred said. 'No. 1: Our permanently ineligible list is effectively a ban on working in the game. This is a matter of logic. There's no reason to have a person who has passed away still on that list. No. 2: Pete Rose is a part of the history of our game. Advertisement 3 Rob Manfred speaks during a news conference Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. AP 'Every other player, including Shoeless Joe Jackson, has been considered by the Hall of Fame and they've made a decision. I saw no reason to leave Pete Rose out there as one of one, no consideration.' Rose, who died in September, was placed on the MLB's ineligible list in August 1989 due to gambling on baseball as the manager of the Reds. Advertisement Manfred, 66, went into detail about Rose's punishment that was enacted by then-commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti. 3 Pete Ross acknowledges spectators during a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame induction ceremony before a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, July 21, 2018, in Cincinnati. AP 'And then, last, I think what people don't realize is Pete Rose wasn't disciplined by commissioner Giamatti,' Manfred continued. 'He entered a settlement agreement with the league. At the time they entered into that settlement, he went on the permanently ineligible list knowing that the rules allowed the Hall of Fame to consider him. 'Commissioner Giamatti went out, had a press conference the day of the settlement and he was asked about the Hall of Fame and he said this settlement should have nothing to do with the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame should consider Pete Rose under its existing rules. So I see the decision as baseball living up to the deal that they originally made with Pete Rose.' Advertisement Two years after Rose's settlement with the MLB, the Hall of Fame created a rule stating that any player on a banned list would not be eligible to be inducted, with the league's all-time hits leader never appearing on a ballot. 3 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks at the SBJ CAA World Congress of Sport, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. AP Manfred said his decision to reinstate Rose was 'difficult,' citing the emotions from the fans and other individuals around the game. 'Yeah, it's a difficult decision because people are passionate about issues like this,' Manfred said. 'When you come up the side of the business that I came up, living up to your agreements is a really important thing and this was overdue, in my opinion.' Advertisement Following Manfred's decision, chairman of the board of the Hall of Fame Jane Forbes Clark said the formerly ineligible players will be considered by the Historical Overview Committee. The committee is set to create the ballot for the Classic Ball Era Committee to vote on when it next meets in December 2027.
3 days ago
- Business
MLB invests in Athletes Unlimited Softball League ahead of June debut
Major League Baseball is investing in Athletes Unlimited to support its softball league that will debut next month, marking the first time MLB will have a comprehensive partnership with a professional women's sports league. MLB said Thursday it was making a strategic investment in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League of an undisclosed amount for operational costs and a commitment to help it gain visibility in various ways, including assistance with content, marketing and sales, events, distribution, editorial, and digital and social platforms. That includes marketing the AUSL and its athletes during MLB's All-Star Game and throughout the postseason. 'This is something we're really excited about,' MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told The Associated Press. 'We studied the space hard. We think it's a real opportunity and we're excited to be involved.' Athletes Unlimited has featured softball since 2020, when it unveiled a unique format that crowned an individual champion. The company will launch a league with a traditional, team-based format starting June 7 and will keep its individual format for the AUSL All-Star Cup that follows. Manfred noted that interest in women's sports had 'escalated significantly' in recent years and his league had been looking for ways to get more involved, including the possible launch of its own softball league. He said Athletes Unlimited's overall success and its strong infrastructure helped make the decision to collaborate easier. 'We thought rather than starting on our own and competing, that finding a place where we could invest and grow a business was a better opportunity for us,' Manfred said. Kim Ng, a former Major League Baseball executive, signed on as an adviser with the AUSL and was promoted to commissioner in April. Ng is the former general manager of the Miami Marlins, the first female GM in any of the major U.S. pro sports leagues, and has three World Series rings from a combined 21 years in the front offices of the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. 'As the process moved forward and it looked like we were going to make an investment, they hired Kim, and we had a long relationship with Kim, and it just added additional comfort to the idea of making the investment,' Manfred said. Athletes Unlimited co-founder Jon Patricof said MLB's commitment to increasing the AUSL's visibility is as important as the financial investment. 'They're committed to really elevating the AUSL,' he said. 'It's probably about one of the most difficult things for any sports league to do which is to get visibility and break through to new audiences, and I think MLB is already doing that for the AUSL, and there's going to be a lot more to come.' Women's pro softball leagues and independent teams have come and gone over the years, but none have offered a consistent option for women to have a stable future in the sport. It appears that might change, with the help of softball greats Cat Osterman, Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza and Natasha Watley as AUSL advisors. On June 7, the Bandits and Talons will open with a three-game series in Rosemont, Illinois, and the Blaze and Volts will start off with a three-game series in Wichita, Kansas. The four teams will play 24 games this season as touring properties that will play games in 12 cities. The top two teams will compete in the AUSL Championship, a best-of-three series July 26-28 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Patricof said the league plans to expand to six teams next season and be city based. MLB already supports several women's softball and baseball initiatives, including a partnership with USA Softball and operation of the MLB Develops girls baseball pipeline. It is not involved with the upstart Women's Professional Baseball League, which plans to launch in 2026 as the first pro baseball league for women since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League — of "A League of Their Own" fame — folded in 1954. Manfred said he sees a bright future ahead for AUSL. 'I fully expect that they will expand, and we hope that we will end up with a league that is sustainable on its own, a good investment for us, and a partner in growing diamond sports internationally,' he said. Patricof said the partnership with MLB and the already existing relationship between the Athletes Unlimited and USA Softball combine to help give the AUSL stability. 'As we announce MLB coming into the fold formally into what we're doing with the AUSL, you really see a full alignment of this sport behind this league, and that I think is exciting for everyone,' Patricof said. 'People who have sat on the sidelines or maybe have watched pro softball from a little bit of distance — everybody's now jumped in, and I think that is an exciting moment for people who've been around this sport.'
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Business
- NBC Sports
MLB invests in Athletes Unlimited Softball League ahead of June debut
Eric Samulski dives into the closer-by-committee situation with the Detroit Tigers, sharing why Will Vest is likely the "primary option" after picking up his seventh save of the season. Major League Baseball is investing in Athletes Unlimited to support its softball league that will debut next month, marking the first time MLB will have a comprehensive partnership with a professional women's sports league. MLB said Thursday it was making a strategic investment in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League of an undisclosed amount for operational costs and a commitment to help it gain visibility in various ways, including assistance with content, marketing and sales, events, distribution, editorial, and digital and social platforms. That includes marketing the AUSL and its athletes during MLB's All-Star Game and throughout the postseason. 'This is something we're really excited about,' MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told The Associated Press. 'We studied the space hard. We think it's a real opportunity and we're excited to be involved.' Athletes Unlimited has featured softball since 2020, when it unveiled a unique format that crowned an individual champion. The company will launch a league with a traditional, team-based format starting June 7 and will keep its individual format for the AUSL All-Star Cup that follows. Manfred noted that interest in women's sports had 'escalated significantly' in recent years and his league had been looking for ways to get more involved, including the possible launch of its own softball league. He said Athletes Unlimited's overall success and its strong infrastructure helped make the decision to collaborate easier. 'We thought rather than starting on our own and competing, that finding a place where we could invest and grow a business was a better opportunity for us,' Manfred said. Kim Ng, a former Major League Baseball executive, signed on as an adviser with the AUSL and was promoted to commissioner in April. Ng is the former general manager of the Miami Marlins, the first female GM in any of the major U.S. pro sports leagues, and has three World Series rings from a combined 21 years in the front offices of the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. 'As the process moved forward and it looked like we were going to make an investment, they hired Kim, and we had a long relationship with Kim, and it just added additional comfort to the idea of making the investment,' Manfred said. Athletes Unlimited co-founder Jon Patricof said MLB's commitment to increasing the AUSL's visibility is as important as the financial investment. 'They're committed to really elevating the AUSL,' he said. 'It's probably about one of the most difficult things for any sports league to do which is to get visibility and break through to new audiences, and I think MLB is already doing that for the AUSL, and there's going to be a lot more to come.' Women's pro softball leagues and independent teams have come and gone over the years, but none have offered a consistent option for women to have a stable future in the sport. It appears that might change, with the help of softball greats Cat Osterman, Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza and Natasha Watley as AUSL advisors. On June 7, the Bandits and Talons will open with a three-game series in Rosemont, Illinois, and the Blaze and Volts will start off with a three-game series in Wichita, Kansas. The four teams will play 24 games this season as touring properties that will play games in 12 cities. The top two teams will compete in the AUSL Championship, a best-of-three series July 26-28 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Patricof said the league plans to expand to six teams next season and be city based. MLB already supports several women's softball and baseball initiatives, including a partnership with USA Softball and operation of the MLB Develops girls baseball pipeline. It is not involved with the upstart Women's Professional Baseball League, which plans to launch in 2026 as the first pro baseball league for women since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League - of 'A League of Their Own' fame - folded in 1954. Manfred said he sees a bright future ahead for AUSL. 'I fully expect that they will expand, and we hope that we will end up with a league that is sustainable on its own, a good investment for us, and a partner in growing diamond sports internationally,' he said. Patricof said the partnership with MLB and the already existing relationship between the Athletes Unlimited and USA Softball combine to help give the AUSL stability. 'As we announce MLB coming into the fold formally into what we're doing with the AUSL, you really see a full alignment of this sport behind this league, and that I think is exciting for everyone,' Patricof said. 'People who have sat on the sidelines or maybe have watched pro softball from a little bit of distance - everybody's now jumped in, and I think that is an exciting moment for people who've been around this sport.'
Fox Sports
4 days ago
- Business
- Fox Sports
MLB invests in Athletes Unlimited Softball League ahead of new season
Major League Baseball is investing in Athletes Unlimited to support its softball league that will debut next month, marking the first time MLB will have a comprehensive partnership with a professional women's sports league. MLB said Thursday it was making a strategic investment, which is north of 20%, in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League of an undisclosed amount for operational costs and a commitment to help it gain visibility in various ways, including assistance with content, marketing and sales, events, distribution, editorial, and digital and social platforms. That includes marketing the AUSL and its athletes during MLB's All-Star Game and throughout the postseason. "This is something we're really excited about," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told The Associated Press. "We studied the space hard. We think it's a real opportunity and we're excited to be involved." Manfred also said that MLB's "goal is to get a softball league into the same position of stability that the WNBA has found," according to The Athletic. Athletes Unlimited has featured softball since 2020, when it unveiled a unique format that crowned an individual champion. The company will launch a league with a traditional, team-based format starting June 7 and will keep its individual format for the AUSL All-Star Cup that follows. Manfred noted that interest in women's sports had "escalated significantly" in recent years and his league had been looking for ways to get more involved, including the possible launch of its own softball league. He said Athletes Unlimited's overall success and its strong infrastructure helped make the decision to collaborate easier. "We thought, rather than starting on our own and competing, that finding a place where we could invest and grow a business was a better opportunity for us," Manfred said. Kim Ng, a former Major League Baseball executive, signed on as an adviser with the AUSL and was promoted to commissioner in April. Ng is the former general manager of the Miami Marlins, the first female GM in any of the major U.S. pro sports leagues, and has three World Series rings from a combined 21 years in the front offices of the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. "As the process moved forward, and it looked like we were going to make an investment, they hired Kim, and we had a long relationship with Kim, and it just added additional comfort to the idea of making the investment," Manfred said. Athletes Unlimited co-founder Jon Patricof said MLB's commitment to increasing the AUSL's visibility is as important as the financial investment. "They're committed to really elevating the AUSL," he said. "It's probably about one of the most difficult things for any sports league to do, which is to get visibility and break through to new audiences, and I think MLB is already doing that for the AUSL, and there's going to be a lot more to come." Women's pro softball leagues and independent teams have come and gone over the years, but none have offered a consistent option for women to have a stable future in the sport. It appears that might change, with the help of softball greats Cat Osterman, Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza and Natasha Watley as AUSL advisors. On June 7, the Bandits and Talons will open with a three-game series in Rosemont, Illinois, and the Blaze and Volts will start off with a three-game series in Wichita, Kansas. The four teams will play 24 games this season as touring properties that will play games in 12 cities. The top two teams will compete in the AUSL Championship, a best-of-three series July 26-28 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Patricof said the league plans to expand to six teams next season and be city-based. MLB already supports several women's softball and baseball initiatives, including a partnership with USA Softball and operation of the MLB Develops girls baseball pipeline. It is not involved with the upstart Women's Professional Baseball League, which plans to launch in 2026 as the first pro baseball league for women since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League — of "A League of Their Own" fame — folded in 1954. Manfred said he sees a bright future ahead for AUSL. "I fully expect that they will expand, and we hope that we will end up with a league that is sustainable on its own, a good investment for us, and a partner in growing diamond sports internationally," he said. Patricof said the partnership with MLB and the already existing relationship between the Athletes Unlimited and USA Softball combine to help give the AUSL stability. "As we announce MLB coming into the fold formally into what we're doing with the AUSL, you really see a full alignment of this sport behind this league, and that I think is exciting for everyone," Patricof said. "People who have sat on the sidelines or maybe have watched pro softball from a little bit of distance — everybody's now jumped in, and I think that is an exciting moment for people who've been around this sport." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Ahead of June debut, Athletes Unlimited Softball League gets big investment from Major League Baseball
'This is something we're really excited about,' MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told The Associated Press. 'We studied the space hard. We think it's a real opportunity and we're excited to be involved.' Advertisement Athletes Unlimited has featured softball since 2020, when it unveiled a unique format that crowned an individual champion. The company will launch a league with a traditional, team-based format starting June 7 and will keep its individual format for the AUSL All-Star Cup that follows. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Manfred noted that interest in women's sports had 'escalated significantly' in recent years and his league had been looking for ways to get more involved, including the possible launch of its own softball league. He said Athletes Unlimited's overall success and its strong infrastructure helped make the decision to collaborate easier. 'We thought rather than starting on our own and competing, that finding a place where we could invest and grow a business was a better opportunity for us,' Manfred said. Kim Ng, a former Major League Baseball executive, signed on as an adviser with the AUSL and was promoted to commissioner in April. Ng is the former general manager of the Miami Marlins, the first female GM in any of the major U.S. pro sports leagues, and has three World Series rings from a combined 21 years in the front offices of the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. Advertisement 'As the process moved forward and it looked like we were going to make an investment, they hired Kim, and we had a long relationship with Kim, and it just added additional comfort to the idea of making the investment,' Manfred said. Athletes Unlimited co-founder Jon Patricof said MLB's commitment to increasing the AUSL's visibility is as important as the financial investment. 'They're committed to really elevating the AUSL,' he said. 'It's probably about one of the most difficult things for any sports league to do which is to get visibility and break through to new audiences, and I think MLB is already doing that for the AUSL, and there's going to be a lot more to come.' Women's pro softball leagues and independent teams have come and gone over the years, but none have offered a consistent option for women to have a stable future in the sport. It appears that might change, with the help of softball greats Cat Osterman, Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza and Natasha Watley as AUSL advisors. On June 7, the Bandits and Talons will open with a three-game series in Rosemont, Illinois, and the Blaze and Volts will start off with a three-game series in Wichita, Kansas. The four teams will play 24 games this season as touring properties that will play games in 12 cities. The top two teams will compete in the AUSL Championship, a best-of-three series July 26-28 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Advertisement Patricof said the league plans to expand to six teams next season and be city based. MLB already supports several women's softball and baseball initiatives, including a partnership with USA Softball and operation of the MLB Develops girls baseball pipeline. It is not involved with the upstart Women's Professional Baseball League, which plans to launch in 2026 as the first pro baseball league for women since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League — of 'A League of Their Own' fame — folded in 1954. Manfred said he sees a bright future ahead for AUSL. 'I fully expect that they will expand, and we hope that we will end up with a league that is sustainable on its own, a good investment for us, and a partner in growing diamond sports internationally,' he said. Patricof said the partnership with MLB and the already existing relationship between the Athletes Unlimited and USA Softball combine to help give the AUSL stability. 'As we announce MLB coming into the fold formally into what we're doing with the AUSL, you really see a full alignment of this sport behind this league, and that I think is exciting for everyone,' Patricof said. 'People who have sat on the sidelines or maybe have watched pro softball from a little bit of distance — everybody's now jumped in, and I think that is an exciting moment for people who've been around this sport.'
