Senator Calls on Selig to Drop Plan to Put Advertising on Player Uniforms

Senator Calls on Selig to Drop Plan to Put Advertising on Player Uniforms

Schumer: National Pastime Should Belong to Fans, Not Corporate Advertisers

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today sent a letter to Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig calling on him to drop a reported plan to put corporate advertising on player uniforms.

"Major League Baseball is off to another exciting season, but you risk striking out if you go through with an ill-advised plan to put advertising on player uniforms," Schumer wrote. As a lifelong baseball fan and a Senator, I simply cannot stand by and watch as Major League Baseball demeans the game."

The plan, first reported in Monday's New York Post, is under serious consideration by baseball executives who noted that athletes in other sports wear corporate logos. "Baseball is America's pastime and the game belongs to the fans, not corporate advertisers," Schumer wrote. "The excuse that "other sports are doing it" is unacceptable."

"Imagine Willie Mays bearing an ad for Exxon on his back as turned to make "the catch." Envision Jackie Robinson stealing home with a Budweiser logo on his cap. Picture Lou Gehrig declaring himself the luckiest man on the face of the earth with a Coca-Cola banner across his chest. It's just wrong," Schumer's letter continued.

"Selling ads on baseball uniforms would be a costly error. But it is still an avoidable error. It is not too late to put this bush league plan on waivers - permanently. I hope you will do so immediately."