A RECAP OF A NASTY PANDEMIC & BASEBALL, BUT HOPE MLB WILL RETURN

COVID-19 has halted nearly every aspect of American society, including major league baseball. Fortunately, the MLB plans to start the 2020 season on July 4, just in time to celebrate Independence Day. With this year's pandemic nearing its decline, let's look back at the history of baseball and the coronavirus.

Though MLB players began their spring training in early February, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the global threat level for COVID-19 to "very high" just a few weeks later. This level set the COVID threat equal to that in mainland China, where the virus originated. While the MLB intended to start this year's season on March 26, the league faced several pushbacks as the pandemic spread.

These delays started after U.S. states started banning large group gatherings in response to the pandemic. They also came after the NBA, NHL, and MLS suspended their leagues. Pretty soon, the MLB suspended their spring training camps, and major league players were given a chance to return home. However, the Yankees unanimously decided to stay at their spring training facility, hoping to prepare themselves to seize their opportunity at the World Series title. The delays only continued after a minor league player for the Yankees tested positive for the coronavirus in March, becoming the first MLB player diagnosed with COVID-19.

At the same time, the WHO confirmed the 1,000th case of the virus in the U.S. A few days later, another minor leaguer in the Yankees was diagnosed with coronavirus. After the Reds quarantined their players after an employee tested positive for the virus, the MLB considered skipping their 2020 draft. After the Red Sox announced one of their minor league players tested positive for COVID-19, the MLB pushed the Draft back to July.

And it's not just MLB, it's youth baseball, it's World Baseball. In fact, we haven't seen something this significant and destructive in world and baseball since the Spanish Flu in 1918.  It was then that the Spanish flu pandemic infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide. Ballplayers played in masks... but they played... eventually.

According to Patrick Rishe, director of the sports business program at Washington University in St. Louis, the MLB has lost roughly $75 million a day thanks to the coronavirus. As a result, the MLB has considered a half-season with extended playoffs, which adds up to 1,200 games across the country. While the MLB took precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, they not only failed to do so, they increased the risk of spreading the virus.

Based on reports from ESPN, the MLB only made "frequent," and not daily tests for the coronavirus and only quarantined individuals that tested positive. Despite their failings, the MLB has been motivated to reopen their league slowly but carefully. Even though the players are unable to play for the fans in live action, they are still connecting and communicating with them online in a variety of ways.

Players have provided tips for getting through the pandemic, the Dodgers hosted a Zoom party for about 15,000 people, and the MLB started airing live video game matchups on Twitch in an MLB The Show Players League.

If the MLB does manage to begin their season in July, it will be the breath of fresh air the country desperately needs to get through the Summer, despite the setbacks of minor league cuts and major leaguers needing to take a pay cut. The bottom line is baseball's return will be another massive step towards returning to normality.

--Anthony Orlando
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @landi52orlando