It was easy to detect the change in the shirt, with the outline of the All-Star emblem hurriedly covered. The Braves still have a patch on the left sleeve marking the 150th anniversary of the franchise.
The summer event was scheduled for July 13 at Truist Park in Atlanta.
“I’m disappointed I wasn’t there,” said Braves coach Brian Snitker, before the 4-0 loss to Philadelphia. “But I am focused on playing baseball and what we are doing this season. In addition to being disappointed, that’s all I have to say about it. “
Atlanta pitcher Charlie Morton said in his 14th season in the big league: “It’s more than just the guys at the club. It’s about the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, the Braves organization, people who come from all over the country and businesses in the area getting a boost. ”
“I am disappointed with the Braves organization and those who are locals who would have benefited from the influx of business and enthusiasm in the area. It is a bad situation. For some of the guys who are likely to be part of the team, it would have been nice to represent the team in their own park. People would have been able to see what was done at the stadium, ”he said.
“Other than that, I don’t know what to say about it. It just stinks, ”he said.
A new website for the game has not been announced.
The MLB said the All-Star Game festivities will still feature a planned tribute to the late Braves Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, a civil rights hero. Houston businessman Dusty Baker, who played with Aaron in Atlanta, and several others suggested that the event be held in Milwaukee – Aaron started his career with the Milwaukee Braves and ended with the Milwaukee Brewers.
“I think Major League Baseball made a good decision,” said Brewers manager Craig Counsell, who added that he would like to see the game in Milwaukee.
“Absolutely. I think it would be an emotion for the city, for sure,” he said. “It is not good for the city of Atlanta and for some people who have lost some economic opportunities, but if it goes elsewhere, it would be an emotion for the city have it here. ”
Commissioner Rob Manfred made the decision to move the All-Star Game and events, along with the amateur draft, from Atlanta after discussions with big players from the individual league and Players Alliance, a black players organization formed after the death of George Floyd last year.
“It all happened very quickly,” said Chicago Cubs outlaw Jason Heyward, who is black. “We had, I think, a day for spring training. The Players Alliance, we bring together and put as many people as possible on a call. Probably less than 50 guys out of 100 or whatever. We had our conversation.
“We knew how we felt about it. We wanted to make sure, I think, that whatever happened, the decision was made, that we were there to do what we could in Atlanta, ”he said.
Heyward, who grew up in the Atlanta area and was chosen by Braves in the first round of the draft in 2007, said “it was nice to see someone make a move very quickly and try to do it in a positive way, knowing that it is still a difficult decision.”
“I don’t think you will be able to please everyone. I know there are a lot of people in Atlanta who love baseball and were looking forward to seeing an All-Star Game there. A summer classic, I think it’s special, like someone growing up there and watching a lot of baseball, ”he said. “But at the same time, I think that when you talk about a message, people are still here fighting for equality.”