The independent Minor League Baseball team, York Revolution, is declining to play its Pride Night game Thursday, June 18, and has elected to forfeit its game after players refused to wear uniforms that featured a rainbow design on the team’s jersey.
The Revolution’s forfeited game comes before they were set to celebrate the team’s 11th annual Pride Night by hosting the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
“This decision was not reached lightly,” the team said in a statement. “Unfortunately, several of our players have refused to wear the scheduled Pride Night jersey and the club decided that hosting the event is more important than forcing players to wear jerseys they are not comfortable with and playing the game.”
The team went on to say that despite the forfeited game, they still plan to have a Pride Night event take place at their stadium, WallShare Park, and it will be a fun and free celebration that will take place between 5:30-9:00.
The York Revolution went on to say that the action by the players is not clear with the team’s vision of making their games the “Most Welcoming Place in York.”
“As a small token of our regret for the last-minute change of plans and support for our LGBTQIA+ representing partners we are making a $10,000 donation to the Rainbow Rose Center to support and further their work in making sure the York community is as inclusive as we strive to make WellSpan Park in York, Pennsylvania.”
The team went on to say that tickets for Thursday night’s game may be exchanged for any of their remaining home games of the 2026 season.
The topic of wearing Pride Night themed apparel during baseball games has been a trending topic that has received backlash over the last month. On June 5, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen was seen wearing the Dodgers regular blue hat while the rest of the team wore the Pride Night themed hat.
On June 12, three pitchers from the San Francisco Giants altered their Pride Night themed hats by adding bible verses on it, which resulted in the MLB issuing a warning to players for modifying their hats by adding bible verses.
