Courtney Calls Minor League Consolidation Proposal A 'Betrayal'

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Rep Joe Courtney (CT-02) on Tuesday joined Reps. Lori Trahan (D-MA), David McKinley (R-WV), Max Rose (D-NY), and Mike Simpson (R-NY) — co-chairs of the bipartisan Save Minor League Baseball Task Force — in introducing a resolution expressing the "sense of Congress that Major League Baseball should maintain the current minor league structure rather than proceed with its plan to eliminate 42 minor league clubs."

The proposal mostly affects the lower tiers of the minor league system. In other words, the AA-level Hartford Yard Goats would be safe, but the Class A short season Connecticut Sea Unicorns in Norwich could be affected.

"The proposal to eliminate our Connecticut Sea Unicorns and 41 other Minor League teams across the country is a profound mistake," Courtney said. "Countless baseball fans of all ages attend MiLB games each season, and for many, it's their only chance to see our nation's pastime in a family friendly, affordable atmosphere.

"There have been well over half a million statistical errors committed in the MLB since its founding in 1896, but this plan to do away with a quarter of all our Minor League teams ranks among the worst of them. It will cost American communities jobs, and, more importantly, it will cost us in quality of life.

"The House is leading the charge to protect our Minor League Baseball teams, and I’m proud to be part of this bipartisan effort. MLB Commissioner Manfred and his team need to take a hard second look at their proposal, and consider what it could mean for the long-term support that Congress has always afforded to the MLB on a variety of issues.”

Added TRahan, “We launched the Save Minor League Baseball Task Force for a simple purpose — to help ensure a level playing field in the negotiations between MLB and Minor League Baseball so that they yield a fair resolution and protect minor league baseball in communities across the country. Congress has long been a partner to the league in protecting and expanding America’s favorite pastime. We deserve to have our voices heard in any conversation with such potentially devastating consequences. This resolution makes our position clear, and I am grateful to my fellow co-chairs and colleagues for their continued support of this effort."

Some of the key points in the resolution:

• Minor League Baseball teams have had a major impact on small communities
• The value that Minor League Baseball adds to communities goes so far beyond entertainment with youth clinics, donations to local schools and charities
• Minor League Baseball is at the heart of small towns all across rural America
• Minor league baseball provides an affordable and fun way for families to spend time together
• A minor league team brings in an average economic impact of $47.2 million per year to one host town

On November 19, 2019, more than 100 members of Congress joined together on a letter to MLB expressing opposition to the minor league plan.

Courtney said MLB's plan was offered in spite of the fact that Minor League Baseball just completed its 15th consecutive season with an attendance greater than 40 million. That was the ninth-largest single season total in MiLB’s 100-plus year history, he added.

"The plan is a betrayal of the fans, players, municipalities, stadium vendors and employees who have supported these clubs for decades," Courtney said.

Text of the resolution can be found HERE.

Major League Baseball on Tuesday released the following statement:

"MLB is confident that we can modernize our minor league system, improve playing conditions for our players, and protect baseball in communities across America. However, doing so is best achieved with Minor League Baseball's constructive participation, and a recognition that they need to be part of the solution. So far their approach has been neither constructive nor solutions-oriented. The most constructive role Congress can play to achieve these goals is to encourage Minor League Baseball to return to the bargaining table so we can work together to address the real issues impacting minor league players and communities all across the country."