MLB Players, Execs Donate Big Money To Presidential Hopefuls

Giuliani Is Top Recipient Of Campaign Donations From MLB Players And Execs

MLB owners, execs, players and their families have “donated more than $267,000" to presidential candidates,” 59% of it going to Republicans and 41% to Democrats, according to Schouten & Jackson in a front-page piece for USA TODAY.  Donations include $4,600 by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), $2,300 from Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez to Republican Rudy Giuliani and $2,300 from Rockies Vice Chair Dick Monfort to Republican Mitt Romney.  Giuliani -- a Yankees fan whose supporters also include Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner -- is the “top recipient of baseball cash” with more  than $78,000 in donations. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) leads Democratic recipients with almost $50,000. Watchdog group Public Citizen’s Craig Holman said, “The owners of [MLB] are going to try to curry favor with political leadership.” But Red Sox Chair Tom Werner, who has donated to Democrats John Edwards, Sen. Joe Biden (DE) and Sen. Barack Obama (IL) said, “I’m trying to support people who can get this country back in the right direction” (USA TODAY, 10/26).