MLB Notes: Frustrated retired players want career help
The baseball players’ union is frustrated many of its retired members – especially minorities – can’t find jobs working for teams and has asked MLB to help launch a career preparation project.
Union head Tony Clark, a former All-Star first baseman, outlined the plan during an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, a day before the 69th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier.
Components include college scholarships for all prospects signing professional contracts, creation of a database of minority players and programs to enhance their post-playing employment prospects. The union also wants to establish a coaching school, a “Baseball U.” program for continuing education and courses in baseball analytics, statistics and business etiquette.
“Having this conversation every April 15, I’m tired of having it,” Clark said. “Continuing to do the same things over and over again while acknowledging annually that we still have the problem that we’ve had seems to truly be the definition of insanity.”
Funding would come from money collected by the commissioner’s office from the tax levied on clubs for international signing bonuses.
“We’ve been working with the union over the last two years to develop programs for retired players in order to allow them to stay in the game, and we look forward to continuing with those programs in future years,” MLB Chief Legal Officer Dan Halem said.
Schilling records spot on tobacco
After undergoing treatment for oral cancer, former All-Star pitcher Curt Schilling has recorded a public service announcement on the dangers of smokeless tobacco.
The 60-second spot was produced by MLB and the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society. It will air on the MLB Network and be shown on scoreboards at big league stadiums.
“I was warned many, many times over the 30 years I dipped,” Schilling said in a statement. “I never listened. Cancer changed that. I found out, through the worst pain you can imagine and hospitalization for two months, that there was no time during my addiction that was worth what I went through. Don’t ask yourself if you might get cancer when you dip, just get a calendar out and wait.”
Clearing the bases
David Murphy and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to a minor league contract, and the 34-year-old outfielder will report to Triple-A Rochester with the possibility of being promoted soon. …Yu Darvish isn’t sure how to measure his progress as he closes in on his return from Tommy John surgery. Speaking through an interpreter a day after facing hitters for the first time since surgery in March 2015, the Texas Rangers right-hander said he was “not quite there yet” in most aspects of his pitching. He threw a 30-pitch batting practice session.