MLB as part of the new CBA has created an Anti-Hazing and Anti-Bullying Policy that covers a "baseball hazing ritual of dressing rookies up" as women, according to Ronald Blum of the AP. The MLBPA "agreed not to contest" the move. The policy prohibits "requiring, coercing or encouraging" players from "dressing up as women or wearing costumes that may be offensive to individuals based on their race, sex, nationality, age, sexual orientation, gender identify or other characteristic." MLB VP/Deputy General Counsel of Labor Relations & Social Responsibility Paul Mifsud said the new rules resulted partly "in light of social media, which in our view sort of unfortunately publicized a lot of the dressing up of the players." He added the practice was deemed to be "insensitive and potentially offensive to a number of groups." MLBPA General Counsel Dave Prouty: "Times have changed. There is certain conduct that we have to be conscious of." Blum notes "not all outfits are banned," as "superheroes such as Batman and Spider-Man are OK." MLB examined "several college anti-hazing policies while developing these new rules." The policy is in "addition to the workplace code of conduct" adopted by MLB and the union in '13 after the office of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman asked to "meet with baseball officials and inquired what rules the sport had in place against bullying with respect to sexual orientation" (AP, 12/13).
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: MLB.com's Richard Justice writes banning the practice of dressing up as women "had to be done" and both players and owners "are to be applauded." Justice notes the first time he "saw the Orioles put their rookies in waitress uniforms 20 years or so ago, I'm pretty sure there were zero photographs of the whole thing." Justice: "What changed? Social media. One player snaps a photo of three rookies dressed as Wonder Woman, and it might be seen by hundreds of thousands within minutes." As photos got "passed around and as players attempted to outdo one another each year, the ritual took on a darker and more aggressive tone." At times, "lines were crossed" and players on "both sides complained." Justice writes the new policy is a "proactive attempt to draw a line between innocent fun and doing something stupid" (MLB.com, 12/13).
TWITTER REAX: Several former players have objected to the new policy. Vernon Wells: "Most of you people do the same thing for Halloween but it's ok for you to do it because it's funny. Save it. It's not about being demeaning. ... Truly don't care either way. I dressed up as a Hooters employee. I rocked it!" Kevin Youkilis: "Seriously?! Had to wear a Hooters outfit going through customs in Toronto and wore it proudly bc I was in the Show." But Kore Software VP/Product Strategy Russell Scibetti tweeted, "Disapppointed by players responding with the 'I did it, they should do it too' attitude on new @MLB hazing rules." Former Padres beat writer Bill Center: "I'm glad MLB adopted anti-hazing policy. Inappropriate and embarrassing to young players. Never understood why vets enjoyed it."
