The general manager of a Maryland minor league baseball team shut down an effort to stir up a controversy over a team jersey.
The Abderdeen IronBirds, a Class A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, gained some negative attention for the uniform due to the addition of a Blue Lives Matter patch.
Questions arose about the patch, which was affixed to the back of a jersey seen in a photograph shared on Twitter.
“Hey, the Ironbirds jersey has a Blue Lives Matter flag on the uniform instead of the American flag,” a Twitter user noted. “Seems like someone should write something about it.”
@cmcampbell6 Hey, the Ironbirds jersey has a Blue Lives Matter flag on the uniform instead of the American flag. Seems like someone should write something about it. pic.twitter.com/s9HUzeAcoV
— Greg Murphy (@BaltiMurph) July 24, 2019
He followed up by saying he sent the Baltimore Sun something to write about, “and they did.”
Uh, I sent something to a reporter at the Baltimore Sun, suggesting they write about it and they did. Thanks for the support, Chief.
— Greg Murphy (@BaltiMurph) July 26, 2019
He also defended his view in response to the expected backlash in his tweet.
Every other team has an American flag patch in that spot on the uniform and the Ironbirds have a symbol that has been used in political ways. An apolitical symbol would be a separate Harford County Sheriff’s patch.
— Greg Murphy (@BaltiMurph) July 24, 2019
I think replacing the American Flag with a political symbol was an incorrect decision. Having a sheriff’s star patch or a thin blue line patch elsewhere on the jersey would be a less political way to honor the sheriff’s deputies.
— Greg Murphy (@BaltiMurph) July 26, 2019
The tweet was quickly slammed by other Twitter users who called out the effort for trying to “stir up controversy.”
Quit looking to stir up controversy where it doesn’t exist. Just enjoy the baseball game. If that player kneeled during the anthem you’d probably being praising him for being a real hero.
— The Dude (@TheDude30310844) July 29, 2019
IronBirds general manager Matt Slatus stepped in to douse the fire, explaining that there is nothing political in the placement of the Blue Lives Matter patch on the team’s jerseys.
The symbol, a gray American flag with a blue line going across one of the stripes, was used on the shirts to honor Harford County Sheriff’s Senior Deputy Patrick Dailey and Deputy First Class Mark Logsdon, who were both killed in the line of duty in 2016.
“To recognize the two of them, we began wearing that patch and to recognize all of law enforcement, not just in Harford County but in the state of Maryland and around the country,” Slatus told the Baltimore Sun.
Dailey was 52 years old when he died and was a 30-year veteran of the sheriff’s office while Logsdon, 43, was with the sheriff’s office for 16 years.
“We were fortunate to be able to retire the badge numbers of the two Harford County deputies, but I think as a nod to them and a note to their families and to those who protect us around the country, we continue to wear that patch, and we’re proud of it,” Slatus said.
“We are not a political organization by any means,” he added. “We’re here to provide affordable family fun and entertainment to the Upper Chesapeake region. We’re here to develop baseball players and make sure that, most importantly, people come out to the ballpark and have a great time.”
A spokesman for the organization that owns the IronBirds told the Baltimore Sun that fans have been largely supportive of the patch.
“We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback for this action,” Ripken Baseball spokesman John Maroon said.
“This incident left deep scars on our community and we are proud and honored in the way which we have recognized he officers and law enforcement. We have every intention of continuing to recognize the officers and honor their service moving forward,” he added.
Slatus made it very clear that the team was not about to get pulled into a political debate over the symbol.
“This is not a political discussion. It’s not a political point,” he said. “We continue to honor and recognize the memory of the two deputies who tragically — while trying to protect the region — lost their lives in Harford County.”
Twitter users who slammed the original tweet also praised the team’s general manager.
This patch is in honor of the 2 Harford County Sheriff’s deputies who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2016. The Ironbirds have worn the patch since 2016. It is NOT a political statement in any way.
— Diane Johnston (@harleywoman883) July 24, 2019
The Flag is still there it is just overlaid with “the thin blue line.” It is used to show solidarity with police.
— New Day (@N_Wat) July 26, 2019
There is nothing political about honoring those who have died protecting people like you .
— donald powell (@donaldp54170649) July 29, 2019
Go Ironbirds and thanks to the GM who clearly has more balls than you.
— Flacat22 (@flacat22) July 29, 2019
Why does anyone need to write anything? What’s wrong with you?
— Michael Lynch (@mprlynch) July 29, 2019
Sad, pathetic loser looking for something to be mad at. Just enjoy a baseball game.
— the smfic (@the_smfic) July 29, 2019
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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