Commissioner, Give The Fans Their Holiday Baseball Games!

[philliesfiend55]

A few years ago back when Sports Talk radio hosts Mike Francesa and Christopher Russo were still teamed together as "Mike & The Mad Dog" I can remember when they interviewed Commisioner Bud Selig on the subject of " Why Under Selig's tenure as MLB Commissioner had the league started giving some teams off on holidays such as Labor Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, and when applicable Easter". In some years, it was more than just a few teams that were off, but it was a majority of the teams who weren't scheduled on those holidays.
A full slate of games on these holidays had been traditional since the 1930s or even before that. In fact, up until the 1960s, doubleheaders were often played on these holidays.
Francesa and Russo had not been alone in their opinions but spoke for many fans and fellow broadcasters and those who follow the major league game for fun or for a living. Off days are typically divided up between Mondays and Thursdays in the major leagues. Teams that had played on a number of consecutive days could be accomodated with a day off on the Thursday previous to a holiday Monday or on the following Thursday. To address this small scheduling quirk would be as easy as a computer programmer writing that change into the scheduling program - a minimal effort would have been required.
Instead the Commissioner has been content with a scheduling program that gives teams random days off, including Monday holidays.
These days fans will settle for watching just one game of their favorite team on these holidays, (as the doubleheader has become all but extinct) whether it be in person or at home on television.
The Commisioner under Francesa's and Russo's crossfire questioning promised the duo that he'd try to address that issue. It turns out that pledge was largely lip service. Look at tomorrow's Labor Day schedule and you'll see that there are still some teams not scheduled this year.
Holiday games always draw a good walkup crowd as people wait to see what the weather is like and if there are any special factors that might make going to the ballpark more appealing. ie: Wouldn't Ichiro Suzuki's quest for 2,000 hits and his bid to reach 200 hits for the ninth consecutive season be enough of an incentive for some fans to get out of their home and get down to the ball park on Labor Day? .... No way! It's not gonna happen because the Mariners aren't scheduled this year on Labor Day!

When I see teams not scheduled for tomorrow, Labor Day I think "Commissioner Selig, haven't we have this discussion before?"

Also I wonder whether the solemnity of the anniversary of the September
11th attacks makes it appropriate to schedule something as frivolous or entertaining as baseball or football games for that day. Now that's one day where I wouldn't mind seeing Major League Baseball and the National Football League completely "Go Dark".


Philly-brownsfan/(Dennis Orlandini).

[ol' aches and pains]

I agree there should be holiday games. I remember well the Memorial Day and Labor Day doubleheaders. I don't know why it's a day off now. They get five months off, for chrissakes!

I don't agree that they should shut down on Sept. 11th. Of course we should never forget, but why give the ******** the satisfaction of knowing they have disrupted "business as usual"?

[KevinWI]

Hmmm, this is news to me. I guess my Brewers always draw the holiday games. I can remember them playing on 4th of July, Easter, Labor Day, Memorial Day in recent years.

[Gary Dunaier]

I wonder whether the solemnity of the anniversary of the September 11th attacks makes it appropriate to schedule something as frivolous or entertaining as baseball or football games for that day. Now that's one day where I wouldn't mind seeing Major League Baseball and the National Football League completely "Go Dark".

A similar concern was brought up during World War II, whether baseball should continue while the nation was at war. Commissioner Landis wrote President Roosevelt about the matter, and the President responded:


My dear Judge:

Thank you for yours of January fourteenth. As you will, of course, realize the final decision about the baseball season must rest with you and the Baseball club owners - so what I am going to say is solely a personal and not an official point of view.

I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going. There will be fewer people unemployed and everybody will work longer hours and harder than ever before.

And that means that they ought to have a chance for recreation and for taking their minds off their work even more than before.

Baseball provides a recreation which does not last over two hours or two hours and a half, and which can be got for very little cost. And, incidentally, I hope that night games can be extended because it gives an opportunity to the day shift to see a game occasionally.

As to the players themselves, I know you agree with me that the individual players who are active military or naval age should go, without question, into the services. Even if the actual quality to the teams is lowered by the greater use of older players, this will not dampen the popularity of the sport. Of course, if an individual has some particular aptitude in a trade or profession, he ought to serve the Government. That, however, is a matter which I know you can handle with complete justice.

Here is another way of looking at it - if 300 teams use 5,000 or 6,000 players, these players are a definite recreational asset to at least 20,000,000 of the fellow citizens - and that in my judgment is thoroughly worthwhile.

With every best wish,

Very sincerely yours,

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Hon. Kenesaw M. Landis
333 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/prz_lfr2.shtml

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Tomorrow, Labor Day, there are 12 scheduled games. Is that a problem?

[philliesfiend55]

Tomorrow, Labor Day, there are 12 scheduled games. Is that a problem?
There ought to be 16 (including a Yankees-Blue Jays doubleheader). It's traditional to have a full slate of games on holidays. That's one baseball tradition that I favor retaining.

[philliesfiend55]

I don't agree that they should shut down on Sept. 11th. Of course we should never forget, but why give the ******** the satisfaction of knowing they have disrupted "business as usual"?

I hadn't thought about it from that perspective. What a great point!
Ol' Luke would be proud of you.

[geezer]

And BTW, ESPN wont broadcast any games, I remember Bud Smith pitching a no-hitter on Labor Day and broadcasted live on ESPN.

[KCGHOST]

Just not a big deal. With the CBA requiring that a team play no more than 20 consecutive games you have to have scheduling flexibility. Frankly, if Francesca and Russo supported something you would have to question whether their proposition was remotely thoughtout or investigated.

[abolishthedh]

IMHO, this is a big enough deal to discuss. Selig has consistently allowed his office to become subject to manipulation by the players' union, and consistently ignores the best interests of baseball. If there is an average of one less game per holiday vacation day under his tenure then there was under Fay Vincent's brief tenure, then that is curious. Remember, Selig has had two rounds of expansion--- that is four additional teams to schedule.

Selig simply doesn't get the idea that baseball must appeal to the younger generation, including prebuscent kids with nothing better to do than watch baseball games. If the games are available and broadcasted, and still not watched, then that is a broader issue which may not be Selig's fault. But evidence of fewer games to watch must be laid at Selig's door.