America’s national pastime has long been known for its classic staples: hot dogs, Cracker Jacks and overpriced beer. Baseball means the start of spring, autographs during batting practice and mile-long home runs. However, baseball is becoming associated with something else: Religion. An organization called Baseball Chapel, a Christian evangelical ministry, has been quietly spreading throughout all levels of professional baseball. And this can only spell trouble for professional sports.
A March 31 article in The (Baltimore) Sun detailed the effect Baseball Chapel has had on the Baltimore Orioles, painting a positive picture of faith and worship for those who want it and a choice to stay away for those who don’t. I don’t buy it. Whenever religion is brought into the picture, friction occurs.
Orioles infielder Chris Gomez was quoted as saying, “They don’t push the rest of us to go. Everyone knows it’s there if you want to attend.” However, pressure to attend doesn’t have to be verbal. Christianity is a dominant religion in both baseball and the world, and implied pressure from teammates can be just as strong as any other kind. Teams have enough player chemistry problems in this day and age with the revolving door of players due to free agency, big egos and culture differences; religion doesn’t need to be added to the mix.
Manager Sam Perlozzo, a Roman Catholic, welcomes Baseball Chapel because he says it’s a “comfortable situation.” Sure, it’s comfortable for Perlozzo, a member of the dominant group – but what about players who are not Christian or do not participate in any religion at all?
As recently as the 20th century, New York Giants players John McGraw and Christy Mathewson were arrested for violating the Sabbath by playing baseball on Sunday. Baseball Chapel is starting by permeating clubhouses with “non-pressured” worship; you have to wonder if they start exerting their influence even more what could happen to baseball.
The Washington Nationals’ Ryan Church caused a bit of an uproar last year when he said a minister from Baseball Chapel told him his Jewish ex-girlfriend was condemned to eternal damnation. “I was like, ‘Man, if they only knew,'” Church said. “Other religions don’t know any better. It’s up to us to spread the word.”
Are you serious? This is what Baseball Chapel spreads? That Christianity is the only “correct” religion, and if you do not participate their way, you’re wrong or rotting in hell for all of eternity?
I respect those players who feel they need religion in their lives. That’s fine; just keep it out of your profession. You don’t see McDonald’s employees, CEO’s, teachers or any other employees holding prayer sessions before big meetings or any day of work at all. Why should this job, playing baseball, be any different?
Commissioner Bud Selig is said to be investigating the relationship between Baseball Chapel and Major League Baseball, but I feel he’s procrastinating a bit because many in baseball see it as a “clean-up operation” for the steroids mess baseball has mired itself in. Much like America turned uber-conservative after Sept. 11, baseball is attempting to turn to the most conservative subject of all – religion, and more importantly, Christianity – in an effort to improve its bad-boy, cheater image. This attempt is misguided and will do more harm than good. Church and state is separate for a reason; so should be church and baseball.
As Annie Savoy says in the classic baseball movie Bull Durham, “I believe in the Church of Baseball. I’ve tried all the major religions, and most of the minor ones … I’ve tried ’em all, I really have, and the only church that truly feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the Church of Baseball.” Religion is a personal thing that, if you choose to engage in it, should be kept as such – personal. Pray before a game, during a game, after a home run, whatever – but organized religion has no place in baseball.
Nikkee Porcaro is a junior journalism major. She can be reached at cole120@umd.edu.
