Why taking a knee would be more devastating for baseball

The National Football League continues to struggle with the fallout related to players taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem before each game. Jon Del Arroz argues in a Federalist column that the consequences would be much worse for Major League Baseball if its players ever follow their football counterparts’ lead.

1. Baseball’s Identity Is Synonymous With America

Although football is very much an American sport, baseball is far more entwined with what it means to be an American. Baseball is called America’s pastime for a reason. Its unique rules tie into the American dream far better than any other professional entertainment. People from toddlers to grandparents can throw a ball and hit, giving anyone a dream of playing baseball akin to having a home with a white picket fence. …

… With such a rich history, disrespect for the song implies a deep disrespect for baseball itself. Such protests are prone to upset fans of this particular sport far more than others, and could lead to deep troubles for the MLB if the kneeling continues.

2. Attendance Still Hasn’t Recovered From the Strike …

… The reason the strike cut so deeply is because fans identify with baseball players far more strongly than they do athletes of the NFL. There is a “that could be me” factor with baseball because it doesn’t have other sports’ perceived physical demands. When fans see these particular players acting disrespectfully, fans tune out more quickly—and they stay out as a consequence. If we see widespread protests of the national anthem, we might see another big drop in baseball’s viewership. …

… 3. Family Friendliness Is Part of Baseball’s Brand …

… Families teach children to remove their caps and stand for the anthem, and it’s announced at the stadium before the song starts at each game. When children see players involved in these protests, it poses a difficult situation for parents, regardless of their political stances. They are forced to explain that either 1. Their children’s heroes are engaging in bad behavior, or 2. Mire children in toxic identity politics. It leaves one solution for parents: extricating their children from the ballpark in favor of other family-friendly entertainment.

If the MLB loses the families, it stands to lose a lot more than other sports would because of the way baseball has been so heavily marketed to children and families for more than 100 years.