Sorry but this is a disgrace (Should all MLB teams play on Memorial Day?)

[Axman59]

4 hours ago, mtsportsfan said:

What do mean " no compelling reason " ! The compelling reason is being on a national stage , observing a moment of silence for the people that died so that u can type away and say stupid sh#t like that. Its a time to be patriotic and wear the red, white and blue ! Hang a american flag on your house ! Every team should play !

If you really wanted to honor our fallen heroes you wouldn't go to a ball game for a few seconds of silence. You'd attend a dedicated Memorial Day service at a cemetery. I had the honor of visiting Arlington National Cemetery for services on Memorial Day in 1999. It was the most meaningful Memorial Day I've ever had in my 52 years of life.

[mtsportsfan]

26 minutes ago, Axman59 said:

If you really wanted to honor our fallen heroes you wouldn't go to a ball game for a few seconds of silence. You'd attend a dedicated Memorial Day service at a cemetery. I had the honor of visiting Arlington National Cemetery for services on Memorial Day in 1999. It was the most meaningful Memorial Day I've ever had in my 52 years of life.

I do , I take the time to visit my dad ! A Korean war veteran. On memorial day ! Its not a celebration ! But it is honoring the people who gave there lives for us ! You know " America's game "   And I bet it was , had to be emotional ! 

[wallus]

People use "disgrace" and "embarrassing" way too much when talking about sports.

[MrTPlush]

On 5/30/2023 at 7:08 PM, Axman59 said:

If you really wanted to honor our fallen heroes you wouldn't go to a ball game for a few seconds of silence. You'd attend a dedicated Memorial Day service at a cemetery. I had the honor of visiting Arlington National Cemetery for services on Memorial Day in 1999. It was the most meaningful Memorial Day I've ever had in my 52 years of life.

Yah, 9/10 Americans use it as an excuse to drink beer, grill out, maybe shoot off some fireworks, and not go to work. I would venture to guess over 50% of Americans couldn't tell you the difference between Memorial Day and Labor Day if you asked them randomly on a day in like January. 

[Thurston Fluff]

37 minutes ago, MrTPlush said:

Yah, 9/10 Americans use it as an excuse to drink beer, grill out, maybe shoot off some fireworks, and not go to work. I would venture to guess over 50% of Americans couldn't tell you the difference between Memorial Day and Labor Day if you asked them randomly on a day in like January. 

This is kind of what I was getting at in an earlier comment. The reason why people have a hard time knowing the difference is due to how we celebrate it. Frankly I think most people view it more as the kickoff to summer than a solemn day of remembrance. Memorial day should be a day to remember the soldiers who died in wars. I just don't know how playing a game so fans can drink and enjoy themselves does that. Monday should be a day spent in reflection lasting far longer than a moment of silence while wearing red, white and blue then drinking beer and eating brats.

 

 

[Underachiever]

On 5/29/2023 at 10:23 PM, BruisedCrew said:

When I was growing up there used to be “big holiday doubleheaders” on days like Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day. But, over the years I think teams have found that attendance lags on these holidays and there is no compelling reason to play if a lot of fans prefer other holiday activities. 

There just used to be more doubleheaders, but not much evidence that they were tied to holidays. In fact, the Brewers have never played a July 4 doubleheader. They have played a D-header three times on the weekend before, and one of those was in 1992 when the game on 7/4 was rained out and made up as part of a doubleheader on 7/5. They have been off on Memorial Day five times in their history, and three times have not had a game on Labor Day. They have played 10 DHs on Labor Day, but seven of those happened in the 1970s. They had a DH on Memorial Day in 2022 at Wrigley, but even that was a Day/Night schedule where they probably charged separate admissions.

Not sure why some think baseball has more of a responsibility to observe Memorial Day than other businesses. And I'm sure Toronto has no reason to celebrate an American holiday.

[BruisedCrew]

2 hours ago, Underachiever said:

There just used to be more doubleheaders, but not much evidence that they were tied to holidays. In fact, the Brewers have never played a July 4 doubleheader. They have played a D-header three times on the weekend before, and one of those was in 1992 when the game on 7/4 was rained out and made up as part of a doubleheader on 7/5. They have been off on Memorial Day five times in their history, and three times have not had a game on Labor Day. They have played 10 DHs on Labor Day, but seven of those happened in the 1970s. They had a DH on Memorial Day in 2022 at Wrigley, but even that was a Day/Night schedule where they probably charged separate admissions.

Not sure why some think baseball has more of a responsibility to observe Memorial Day than other businesses. And I'm sure Toronto has no reason to celebrate an American holiday.

You have to remember that “when I was growing up” goes back to the late 50’s and predates the Brewers by over a decade. Doubleheaders were much more common then, and seemed to be as much the norm as the exception on Sundays. We attended a lot of Braves doubleheaders on Sundays. Gradually over the years the number of doubleheaders dwindled to the point that scheduled doubleheaders went the route of double features at the movies. 

Maybe my recollection is fuzzy, but in those days I also recall a lot of holiday doubleheaders. One specific memory is going to the original Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, July 4, 1961 for a DH between the Yankees and Tigers, who were locked in a tight battle for first place. The place was absolutely packed with a crowd of over 70,000 as the teams split the pair and Roger Maris hit one of his 61 HR. 
 

I looked up the date on Baseball Reference and on that Tuesday 10 of the 18 major league teams played in doubleheaders and the other 8 played in single games. That was pretty obviously a holiday phenomenon.

On Wednesday, July 4, 1962, the 20 major league teams played 8 doubleheaders. 

On Memorial Day, 1961, which was on a Tuesday, there were 6 doubleheaders.

I didn’t look up any more dates, but there clearly is evidence that holiday doubleheaders were a thing in those days, even on midweek days.

 

[BruisedCrew]

Here is an article that discusses the old tradition of the holiday doubleheader. 
 

https://www.vintagedetroit.com/baseball-played-doubleheaders-july-4th/

[Thurston Fluff]

6 hours ago, Underachiever said:

Not sure why some think baseball has more of a responsibility to observe Memorial Day than other businesses. And I'm sure Toronto has no reason to celebrate an American holiday.

I can't speak for others but I don't think it should be just baseball that closes on Memorial day.