MLB Reverses Decision To Ban Joe Maddon From Wearing Hoodie

MLB Changes Course And Will Now Allow Maddon To Wear His Hoodie During Games

Rays manager Joe Maddon yesterday said MLB officials have "re-interpreted" their decision to ban him from wearing a hoodie during games, according to Marc Topkin of the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES. Maddon: "Hoodie-gate is over. There was a misinterpretation originally and now it has been re-interpreted." The discussion among MLB officials "got as far as" Commissioner Bud Selig, and once the decision was reversed, Maddon received calls from MLB Exec VP/Business Tim Brosnan and VP/Baseball Operations Jimmie Lee Solomon. Maddon "was pleased MLB officials came to their senses." He said, "It's so nice that I can wear it without any kind of concerns that it may result in some form of punishment" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 4/21). FANHOUSE.com's Pat Lackey noted "no reason was given for the abrupt change." Maddon only noted he received a call saying "cooler heads had prevailed." Rays players last night against the White Sox "showed support for their manager and for the decision by filling the dugout with the now MLB-approved sweatshirts" (FANHOUSE.com, 4/20). Maddon planned to wear the hoodie during last night's game to "show his pleasure with the revised ruling" (TAMPABAY.com, 4/20). But ESPN.com's Rob Neyer wrote, "If you let Joe Maddon and Terry Francona wear whatever they like, you have to let everyone wear whatever they like. A rule that's unenforced is unenforceable" (ESPN.com, 4/20).