All 30 Major League Baseball teams reportedly pledged $1 million on Tuesday to cover lost wages of stadium employees who have been impacted by the postponed season due to the coronavirus.
MLB suspended the start of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus. Now with Opening Day not expected until at least May, with July becoming a likelier scenario, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports all 30 clubs are stepping up to help their employees.
“Motivated by desire to help some of the most valuable members of the baseball community, each club has committed $1 million,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said, via statement to ESPN “”The individual clubs will be announcing more details surrounding this support effort in their local communities. The timing of these announcements will vary because of the need to coordinate with state and local laws as well as collective-bargaining obligations in an effort to maximize the benefits realized by each group of employees. I am proud that our clubs came together so quickly and uniformly to support these individuals who provide so much to the game we love.”
It’s an incredible gesture by MLB and its teams at a time when the league is certainly going to lose money due to the loss of ticket sales. Fortunately, owners are coming together to support all of their employees during a very difficult time, when many might have struggled without the steady paycheck from their work with MLB teams.