MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has received plenty of criticism over recent years for his handling of various matters, including most notably the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal.
After it was determined the organization electronically stole signs in 2017 en route to winning the World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Manfred described the Commissioner’s Trophy as a “piece of metal” to explain why the Astros were not stripped of the title.
The casual view of the trophy didn’t sit well with many players, as the likes of Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger and Clayton Kershaw were quick to voice their displeasure with Manfred.
It has been more than two years since Manfred made those comments, and he acknowledged the mistake made in undermining the sport’s biggest prize, via ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr.:
“It was stupid,” he says of his now-infamous comment in February 2020 that it made no sense to confiscate the team’s World Series trophy because, after all, it’s just “a piece of metal.” Two days later, he apologized. Now, he’s telling me: “The piece of metal thing — the worst.”
To Manfred’s credit, he immediately apologized after calling the World Series trophy a piece of metal in February 2020. “I had a long day on Sunday. I think I did 45 minutes on camera and then I did the press conference,” Manfred said at the time.
“I have to say I made one mistake, at least, during that long day. That was in an effort to make a rhetorical point, I referred to the World Series trophy in a disrespectful way, and I want to apologize for that.
“There’s no excuse for it. I made a mistake. I was trying to make a point but I should’ve made it in a more effective way. I want to apologize for it. I’ve awarded five World Series trophies.
“There is not greater pleasure in this job than awarding that trophy. I understand what it means, and again, it was a mistake to say what I said.”
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