Major League Baseball, Fox issue statement about Tony Gwynn omission during All-Star Game

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is a chance during the middle of the season to celebrate what has happened up to that point. It is also a chance to reflect on some of the key players and teams in history.

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Less significant happenings than the passing of San Diego Padres’ legend Tony Gwynn have been acknowledged during the mid-summer classic in past seasons, yet Major League Baseball and Fox inexplicably failed to honor Gwynn at the game itself or as part of the television coverage. This understandably led to quite a reaction from those watching.

MLB and Fox have issued a joint statement addressing the issue (as passed along by Ken Rosenthal on his Facebook page):

"“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, an extraordinary individual whose memory we have honored in numerous ways in recent weeks. The Baseball family has sadly lost a number of people this year – including Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, Frank Cashen, and former All-Stars Jerry Coleman, Jim Fregosi and Don Zimmer – and did not want to slight anyone by singling out one individual.”"

Baseball did not want to slight any one individual by featuring Gwynn…but what about slighting somebody by leaving him off the list in your statement?

To borrow from baseball’s own terminology, that’s another swing and a miss.

Strike 2, MLB and Fox. Let’s see if you can get it right in your statement about your statement, eh?