(Photo by Nathan Mullet via Unsplash)
At least 18 of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 30 franchise teams (60 percent) will host “Faith Night” events during the 2023 season, according to Religion Unplugged.
Thousands of fans attend worship events immediately after the baseball game to enjoy performances by Christian musicians and hear personal testimonials from baseball players.
A handful of other teams have also hosted such events in recent years.
MLB teams with upcoming faith and family promotions include the Arizona Diamondbacks (August 25), Seattle Mariners (August 26) and Washington Nationals (September 2), according to Religion Unplugged.
The “He Understands Us” media campaign, which challenges viewers to look at Jesus, sponsors faith events hosted by the Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals. In addition, “He Gets Us” is also advertised at Los Angeles Rangers and Angels games, the outlet reported.
As CBN News reported, the “He Gets Us” campaign launched in 2022 to reach people through TV, radio, digital ads, billboards, and experiential platforms. With a budget of $100 million, the goal has been to start conversations among a wide range of people.
In recent years, other teams have also organized events aimed at Catholics and Muslims.
MLB teams often use themed events to increase ticket sales. Promoters target their sales pitches directly at religious groups and Christian radio listeners, according to Religion Unplugged.
The Los Angeles Dodgers sparked controversy and backlash earlier this summer when the team announced they would honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a controversial drag group that dresses as nuns and mocks religious images like the crucifixion, during their Pride Night event on June 16.
Only one MLB team, the Texas Rangers, does not sponsor an LGBT Pride night, Religion Unplugged reported.
As CBN News reported, the Dodgers event led to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops issuing an official statement denouncing the team’s decision to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (SPI) at the Feast of Sacred Heart. calling it “blasphemy”.
Several MLB players also weighed in on the team’s move. Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was among them; He told the Los Angeles Times that he disagreed with the decision to honor the organization during the Pride Night game.
And, according to Kershaw, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence debacle accelerated the decision to bring back another event: Christian Faith Day.
“I think we were always going to celebrate Christian Faith Day this year, but I think the timing of our announcement was rushed,” Kershaw told the outlet. “Picking a date and doing those different things was part of that as well. Yeah, it was in response to the highlighting of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.”
Baseball and faith nights
The marketing of professional baseball to people of faith goes back at least 65 years.
Paul Putz, deputy director of the Baylor University Institute for Faith and Sports, revealed that teams like the Baltimore Orioles coordinated “Interfaith Night” in the 1950s, according to Religion Unplugged.
In a recent tweet, Putz wrote: “I was talking to a reporter today about the history of ‘faith nights’ in baseball and I had to mention the 1950s version: Interfaith Nights. They started in Baltimore when they were a minor league, then became popular in the majors when Cold War ‘tri-faith America’ rhetoric was all the rage.”
Putz also included images of Interfaith Night ticket stubs and a newspaper article highlighting the event “to remind human beings that they belong to the brotherhood of man.”
I was talking to a reporter today about the history of “faith nights” in baseball and I had to bring up the 1950s version: Inter-Faith Nights
Started in Baltimore when they were a minor league team, then caught on in the majors when Cold War “tri-faith America” rhetoric was hot pic.twitter.com/0RdPKRRA9e
— Paul Putz (@p_emory) August 3, 2023
Thirty-three years later, in 1991, Faith Nights featuring Christian music and player testimonials began when a St. Louis Cardinals fan named Judy Boen hosted the first Christian Family Day at the old Busch Stadium, according to Sports Spectrum. .
2023-08-22 22:53:47
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