Pro-Life Baseball Players Support American Life League

(Ley) But we begin with an issue in Phoenix bringing together two topics rarely if ever heard in the same sentence. Baseball and abortion. The pastoral charm of baseball could not be farther from the fiery emotion and politics of abortion. In this case the issue involves a club owner and the use of it publicly funded ballpark for a pro-life group to launch a campaign. And the right, some would argue, the necessity of professional athletes becoming socially and politically involved. And not just on the popular or majority side of an issue but on the side that invites criticism. Sal Pal Antonio examines what happens when these ballpark politics become part of the ballpark experience. (Music: Take Me Out the Ball Game) Opening day at Bank One Ballpark. Fans relax in the pool in right-center field. Enjoy the Diamondback band on a pefect spring day. (Let's play some ball!) And past some pro-choice demonstrators just steps from the front gate. (Shen) I don't think it's a good idea to mix such hot-button and controversial issues such as abortion rights with baseball. (Reporter) This controversy began in February when the American Life League, a group fighting to have all abortions banned even in cases of ***, ***, and when the mother's life is in danger, held a press conference at BankOne Ballpark. There they announced a fundraising initiative, "Battin' 1000," designed to raise money for an educational center in Virginia called the Campus for Life. It is endorsed by Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo as well as numerous other baseball managers, executives, and players. (Sanderson) We do have a common bond and that common bond is other than our love of the game of baseball. We believe strongly in the sanctity of human life. We're happy to give our time and effort to affirm the message that life is indeed precious. (Mead)I don't know how many of these testosterone-charged ball-players have experienced a a pregnancy, particularly an unintended pregnancy, but I doubt that any of them have. And they are trying to impose their will of women's reproductive choice on women all over the country. (Man)Oh my God! (Reporter)The abortion debate has been a heated one for decades, but the issue here is that a major league baseball owner allowed a publicly-financed facility to be used by a group with a clear political agenda. (Shen) My tax dollars earned the bricks of that building. If he were to, you know, rent out a room in a hotel, or even do it in his own home, that would be one thing 'cause, you know, he can do whatever he wants with his money, frankly. He's a private citizen. But by using a publicly-funded space with paid by, you know, billed with tax dollars. That's not okay. And it wouldn't be okay if you use it for Planned Parenthood because then he would be isolating his pro-life fans. (Colangelo) Our buildings are available to people with all types of agendas. All they have to do is pay a fee, pay a rental fee, and that's exactly what that particular group headed by Sal Bando did. (Reporter) Sal Bando spent sixteen years in the Major Leagues winning three straight world series titles with the Oakland A's. Bando has been active in the pro-life movement for years and is chairman of "Battin' 1000." (Bando) We're no different than any other organization. We paid for the use of the room. We thought because it's a baseball fundraising theme that having it at the ball park would only be apropos to have it there. And Jerry lent his name because, being a pro-life person. (Scalzo) I think it may be the relationship of the the major league baseball owners taking a stand that lifts it to a higher level. (Reporter) According to Bill Scalzo, the director of the Maricopa County Stadium District, the county approves all concerts and other large events. The Diamondbacks manage the day-use events, such as "Battin' 1000" press conference. (Scalzo) Our contractual relationship allows a team, if they have an event that is related to Major League Baseball, with its players or owners or other things, they have the use of the suites without our permission. (O'Connell) The voters supported the construction of this public facility not to support Mr. Colangelo's private views. But to have a winning baseball team here which we did. (Colangelo) I happen to have a personal belief, which I am entitled to. But people sometimes confuse me in what I believe with the teams that I I'm involved with in terms of ownership. (Bando) All it is is a theme, a fundraising theme called "Battin 1000" and if we're going to use of baseball theme than we thought let's find some players that would be pro-life and that were willing to lend their name to it. (Reporter) That list includes former Major Leaguer Robin Yount, Gary Carter, and Dwight Evans, as well as Tommy Lasorda, Sparky Anderson, and Tampa Bay manager, Lou Piniella. Did you grapple at all, Sal, with the idea of marrying professional baseball players with an issue that, you know, has some history of being very divisive? (Bando) Well I, I think %uh to me the only thing divisive is to take the life of an innocent child. I, I think just because we're pro athletes as a mean we don't have a brain we don't take a standard and have the morals to stand behind what we believe in. (Reporter) ESPN requested interviews with all ten current players who endorsed "Battin' 1000." Only one, Abraham Nunez of the Pirates, agreed to speak on camera about his involvement with the group. (Nunez) I'm with him, you know, on this theme, because I know these people, they don't believe in saying stuff that I believe. You know what I mean? But everybody has the right to choose in life, but, hey, I mean, I'm not worried about what people is going to think. (Mead)I'm all for people speaking out on it. And sometimes it takes courage. As long as they don't imply that they are bringing with them all of the ballplayers, the whole profession. (Ley) Sal Pal Antonio reporting. Major League baseball declined to comment on the use of its parks by special interest groups. A spokesman said MLB has no control over use of the stadiums and quote, "We don't get involved with these kinds of issues and we can't stop people from taking political stands on their own." We say good morning, now, to Sal Bando. He joins us this morning from High Point University in North Carolina. And Mark Pollack. He is the founder of the Giving Back fund which advises athletes on thier charitable foundations. He is in Boston. Sal, let me begin with you. In retrospect how much though did you give to any possible negative wash back on baseball because of putting this in-the-bob, naming it "Battin' 1000," having a strong baseball identity? (Sal) Well we really never get much of the thought that we just thought like I said I was apropos that you have a baseball theme and we use a baseball park. We also had a couple hotels lined up but it just seemed that it was more appropriate to do it there. And I think a lot of people have made a lot of %uh noise when it really, you know, we're no different than any other organization who rented a room and held a press conference. (Ley) Is this noise or substance Mark Pollack? (Mark) Well from a philanthropic point of view it's extremely unusual. We've started about forty or fifty foundations with athletes over the last couple years and I don't know any that have adopted a mission or a cause that this controversial. So it's it's very unusual, not that athletes I agree with, Sal, certainly have the opportunity to speak their mind and endorse whatever they choose to endorse. But with high-profile athletes you very often find a hesitance to get involved in something this divisive and controversial because it certainly could have impact on their endorsement careers and corporate sponsorships. (Ley) Any of your people thinking that way, Sal? (Sal) I don't think so I, I think if they felt that their endorsements was in danger then the priority would be to take a stand on what they believe in and I think if you really believe in something then take a stand on it. If you're lukewarm about it or you're worried about the political correctness, then don't get involved. (Ley) Well I know you can't speak for the the current major leaguers who signed and agreed to %uh endorse your group but only one, Abraham Nunez, would speak on camera. Why do you suspect possibly the others might be reluctant? (Sal) I think because of the controversy it involves or the questions they may be asked. They just don't want to make more of it than %uh need be. I think that %uh that by lending their name to it says enough that they believe in the, in pro-life and that they believe in the life of a child and I don't think you need to say any more than that. (Ley) You know, Mark, for years we we hear people say, you know, athletes have to get involved. We have this guazey remembrance of the way people got involved in the nineteen-sixties. Here, guys are getting involved in an unpopular issue and standing up. (Mark) Well it's true I don't know of anybody who's really since Muhammad Ali who's been a very high-profile athlete is taking a stand that could be potentially this %uh explosive. But I would ask Sal a question. I would say if baseball's going to be used as a battle place for the marketplace of ideas or battleground, rather, for the marketplace of ideas, would he be surprised if a Planned Parenthood engaged terrible baseball players and and did a similar thing, and he talks in his "Battin' 1000" perspectus about having a friendly competition and teams would vie for those who could contributed the most. I, I would say that in a true issue like this where there's such strong feelings on both sides, I would imagine that the other side will galvanize their support with baseball players as well, and and have a joint-fundraising competition. (Ley) Sal, I don't... where's this lead? (Sal) Mark, I really don't see this as a problem. We did not choose baseball as an avenue. We just use it as a theme. And no more than that. And because it was a theme we got some baseball players involved. But by no means are we saying that %uh baseball is going to be the platform for, for us to take us to take our stand. We could have chosen any other subject or any other theme. It just so happens baseball was the one we chose. (Mark) But you would agree that baseball is the American pastime and athletes are role models and so choosing baseball players who are role models has a powerful effect. (Sal) Most definitely. I would think that if you have a player out there who stands for %uh life and the gift of life, all the more we would want that player to be focused because that to me is a type a role model that the young people should look at. (Mark) Do you have a problem with the American Life League claiming in their literature absolute truth and being grounded as strongly as they are in Catholicism? Everybody in the United States is not catholic. (Sal) Well I think that to me what's most important is that they're pro-life. Now do I agree with everything %uh that they say? I probably differ in some areas. But, again, the total focus is on life, and the gift of life, and that's the stand we take. We're really trying to build a campus that will help educate generation after generation of the ethics that they're going to be a confronted with. (Ley) I'll give you both you gentlemen a shot at this final question. What does all this media scrutiny to this story? What will this do to future players speaking out on ideas and political issues? Sal? (Sal) Well for me I think of a player totally believes in what he %uh stands for, he's not going to be afraid to step forward and really tell people what he believes and why he believes it. At the same time I think for those that are lukewarm they will probably stay in the closet and we won't hear from them. (Ley) Mark? (Mark) Well it might in fact embolden players to speak their consciences and if that's the case then I think that would be a good thing. (Ley) All right. Sal Bando. Mark Pollack. Thank you very much for a great exchange of thoughts this morning. We appreciate you joining us.