Gov. Abbott backs out of throwing first pitch at Rangers opener, blames partisan politics
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott backed out of throwing out the first pitch at the Texas Rangers’ home opener Monday after Major League Baseball pulled its All-Star Game from Atlanta in response to Georgia’s voting law, which opponents said would suppress minority voters.
In a letter to the Rangers, Abbott said he had been looking forward to throwing the ceremonial opening pitch, until Major League Baseball adopted “what has turned out to be a false narrative about the election law reforms in Georgia, and, based on that false narrative, moved the MLB All-Star Game from Atlanta.”
“It is shameful that America’s pastime is not only being influenced by partisan political politics, but also perpetuating false political narratives,” Abbott said in the letter to Neil Leibman, the president of business operations and the chief operating officer for the Texas Rangers.
Abbott said the state will not seek to host the All-Star Game or any other MLB special event.
“This decision does not diminish the deep respect I have for the Texas Rangers baseball organization, which is outstanding from top to bottom,” Abbott said.
Georgia’s law would shorten the window for early and absentee voting, give state lawmakers more authority over local elections, and prohibit giving out food and water within 150 feet of a polling pace, according to the Washington Post.
A spokesperson for the Rangers said Abbott’s office reached out to the team Monday morning to let them know he wouldn’t be attending the game.
Texas lawmakers are debating voting proposals in the Legislature, including prohibiting drive-through voting and blocking election officials from sending out vote by mail applications to people who didn’t request one.
Supporters of the measures say they’d enhance election integrity, a priority for Abbott, but opponents say the bills would suppress voters, particularly voters of color and those with disabilities.
North Texas State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, floated the idea of Arlington hosting the All-Star Game on Twitter Saturday.
The free market at work,” Turner said. “Obviously, the ideal city to host the MLB All Star Game is Arlington, home to the brand new Globe Life Field! If (Gov. Abbott) and (the Texas Legislature) drop the vote suppression bills now, I bet we’d have a good chance of landing this game.”
A baseball source told the Star-Telegram last week that the Rangers were not under consideration to host the 2021 All-Star Game, but Rangers officials believe they are a front-runner to host the game in 2023, 2024 or 2025.
MLB frequently rewards teams that have made significant investments in their communities, such as a new ballpark, with a showcase event. The Rangers were awarded the 1995 All-Star Game the year after they opened the Ballpark in Arlington, and Atlanta was selected for the 2021 game as a reward for building SunTrust Park, which opened in 2017.
This story was originally published April 5, 2021 at 11:22 AM.
