Protest ‘blacklisting’ of Barry Bonds

The following appeal against the “blacklisting” of Barry Bonds has recently been circulating throughout the media. The appeal has been posted by The Black Commentator, Black Athlete Sports Network, and San Francisco Bay View Web sites as well as the Baseball Think Factory Newsblog. These postings resulted in a number of supportive e-mails from readers. The writer is a former consultant on player evaluation for the Boston Red Sox and the Montreal Expos.

How is it possible for the best hitter in the National League in 2007, Barry Bonds, to be unable to find a job with any team in Major League Baseball in 2008? How is it possible for the greatest hitter in the history of MLB, Barry Bonds, after being the best hitter in the NL in 2007, to be unable to get a job with any MLB team in 2008?

Here’s my computed Run Production Averages (RPA), see table, for the top 27 hitters in MLB’s 2007 season (minimum 400 computed plate appearances, as per RPA method). My method shows the season-adjusted value of each plate appearance in terms of the runs produced by that batter per the RPA formula that I previously described in my annual player rating books.

Are you going to tell me that there isn’t a single team that could use Bonds’ big bat? Tell me just one team that doesn’t have room on their 25-man roster for the greatest hitter in MLB history! Bonds has not been convicted of anything. He has not been accused of betting on games or throwing games. He has not been accused of assaulting anyone. Bonds has been accused of not being a nice guy by the media, but is that a crime?

Bonds has been accused of not telling the truth to a grand jury investigating BALCO. He does not own BALCO and does not distribute steroids on behalf of BALCO. Why was the grand jury investigating Bonds? Weren’t they supposed to be investigating BALCO? How did that “investigation” of BALCO turn into a witch hunt directed against MLB players? Clearly, BALCO wasn’t the real target in the racist campaign against Bonds.

I am my union’s delegate to the New York City Central Labor Council. During my union work I have been a grievance representative. I have often represented union members who have been brought up on charges for both minor and major infractions. Members could get fired for directly disobeying an order or for incompetence or for various serious infractions. The only time that the member faced suspension, however, was when the member posed an immediate danger.

What “immediate danger” to MLB does Barry Bonds pose that requires Bonds’ suspension prior to a decision in Bonds’ upcoming trial? In fact, wouldn’t the presence of Bonds on a MLB team roster—the Baltimore Orioles, for instance—be an immediate big boost to that team’s attendance as well as a big boost to their chances of winning?

In effect, MLB teams are willing to lose money rather than hire Bonds. Isn’t that the definition of a “blacklist”? The actors, singers, directors, etc., who were “blacklisted” during the McCarthy era witch hunt were money makers for the entertainment industry, yet no owner would hire them! Isn’t that exactly what is happening with Bonds?

Weren’t many of these talented performers indicted and some convicted for refusing to cooperate with grand juries and dragged before government-staged hearings in front of hundreds of cameras and reporters? Years later many of those “blacklisted” were apologized to, but did that apology make up for the destruction of their livelihoods and their personal lives during the McCarthy “blacklisting”? Of course not!

I have a special disgust for the owners of the San Francisco Giants. They made millions of dollars off of Barry Bonds. They were able to build a moneymaking stadium based, to a great extent, on Bonds. Where is their gratitude? Nowhere! He was their star player who was loved by the fans in the Bay Area, yet the Giants’ team owners shamefully released Bonds after the 2007 season so as to do their part in the “blacklisting”! They deserve a “Hall of Shame” of their own!

Years from now, when MLB is forced to apologize to Bonds for their actions, that apology will never make up for the crime that it is inflicting today on him and on the many fans who admire the athletic greatness that Bonds has personified as a player. I also admire him for his unbending, “in your face” attitude, as he’s been enduring this constant attack from the big business media, especially the sports talk radio and cable channels that have to fill 24-hour-a-day air time by creating controversy and scandal where there would have been little or none before those media outlets were created.

The following wording could be used for a petition to be circulated inside and outside stadiums to all concerned fans: “I appeal to the fans of MLB to bombard their team owners with letters and e-mails and petitions demanding that their team hire Barry Bonds. Imagine, for instance, Bonds added to the roster of the woeful offense of the Baltimore Orioles. Imagine the magical confrontations in the American League East with David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez at Fenway Park and Camden Yards and with Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter at Yankee Stadium and Camden Yards. Wouldn’t that do wonders for attendance for a Baltimore Orioles franchise that has been down in the dumps for so long?

“An historic wrong is being committed by the owners. Do we want to have a posthumous apology to Barry Bonds, as was done for Jim Thorpe, or do we correct this wrong NOW? Bonds is this era’s Babe Ruth. He’s the biggest star in our national pastime!”

While ending the Iraq occupation and fighting for a moratorium on home foreclosures take precedence, millions of you will still be in attendance at MLB games. While there, couldn’t you also do your part in fighting against the shameful “blacklisting” of Barry Bonds, the greatest hitter in MLB history? I want to see Barry Bonds playing baseball in 2008!