MLB Franchise Notes: Do Nats Have No Shirt, No Service Policy?

Nationals fan Benjamin Correia in last Sunday's Washington Post wrote he and a friend at the June 8 Giants-Nationals game at Nationals Park were informed by a ballpark employee that "we would have to put our shirts back on. We were told that it was illegal and considered 'indecent exposure.'" In DC, Dan Steinberg wrote Nationals VP/Communications Chartese Burnett, when asked about the incident, "referred me to the team's Guest Code of Conduct, which speaks of creating 'a family entertainment environment' and includes the following bullet point: 'Obscene or indecent clothing will not detract from the guest experience.'" Burnett, asked if shirtless men could be considered obscene or indecent, said, "I mean, yeah, I guess. People are offended if you have pink hair. ... Certain things are within reason and certain things aren't." However, Steinberg noted the Nationals have "no specific policy against male shirtlessness, and much of interpretation of the code of conduct is left to the discretion of employees" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 6/16). Meanwhile, the Nationals have canceled a promotional youth jersey giveaway that had been planned for Sunday's game against the Rangers. Instead, the first 10,000 children age 12 and under will be given vouchers for two tickets to any upcoming home game this season (WASHINGTON POST, 6/19).

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MARINERS: In Seattle, Art Thiel writes of Mariners ownership, "Strictly from a business standpoint, they have invented the idiot-proof franchise." In the same town "where bad Sonics management has bludgeoned much of the civic hoops spirit, the Mariners keep whapping fans upside the head, yet they get up and ask for more." Mariners President Chuck Armstrong: "It's asking a lot for the fans to be patient, and they have been -- fifth-best attendance in the American League" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 6/20).

PHILLIES: The Phillies have extended their Player Development Contract with the Triple-A Int'l League Lehigh Valley IronPigs through the 2012 season, "the maximum permitted under the agreement between major league and minor league baseball." The Phillies also extended their contract with the Double-A Eastern League Reading Phillies for two years through the 2010 season (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 6/19).

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