On June 22, the Toronto Blue Jays announced a Cricket Day at the Park to celebrate baseball’s close sporting cousin. The event, which was held on the 24th, saw the team go up against the Oakland Athletics as fans enjoyed different pre and post-game activities. Among the treats for the day was a visit from Chris Gayle, the Jamaican cricket legend. But Cricket Day is about more than fans and players of the game enjoying some batting in the sun. Here is a look at the cultural resonance it holds.
The Event
Gayle was the highlight of the event. Rightfully and lovingly nicknamed “The Universe Boss,” Gayle holds multiple international records in all cricket formats. He was slated to perform batting practice with the Blue Jays and throw the ceremonial first pitch, among other things. With him will be other cricket greats like Rizwan Cheema, former captain for the Canada men cricket team, and national team members Saad Zafar, Hiba Shamshad, and Harsh Thaker.
These stars would cap off the perfect day by signing custom-made cricket jerseys among other memorabilia. For those who could not interact with them during Cricket Day, other chances are available in the sports betting arena. Since they are active national team members, you can use the mostbet promo code to watch, analyze, and bet on their upcoming games.
A Little Backstory
But why is it so important that these stars got to grace this event?
Over the years, baseball has been accused of being the ultimate white man’s sport. Adam Jones, the Baltimore Orioles star outfielder, even called it so in 2016 when he was asked about Colin Kaepernick’s decision to remain seated during the anthem and why baseball players had not joined him.
This, evidently, is more than a sentiment by one legendary black player of the game. It was only until 1947 that African American players even made it to the World Series. That year, Jackie Robinson played second base for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African American to play MLB.
Fast forward to 2017, player stats show that about 40 percent of baseball players were nonwhite. This number is promising and sure makes it seem like baseball has become more diverse – and it has. But looking at other aspects of the game, such as the people in power and the cultural forces, reveals that baseball remains very white to this day.
This is despite baseball’s obvious ties to cricket and its Indian roots. Young fans are often shocked by the lack of representation on the field and in the stands of people who look like them. And sometimes, even mocked for liking or following such a white sport.
Which is why Blue Jay’s Cricket Day is so significant.
The Significance
It can be argued that holding an event to celebrate cricket, headlined by Indian or Indian-born cricketers is a strong act of representation. Arguably the strongest to come out of Toronto in a long time. By embracing the similarities between baseball and cricket, the former can begin to bridge the gap within the baseball community that has seemed to alienate nonwhite players and fans.
And while one weekend is unlikely to solve the problem, which is very likely systemic, it does show a willingness to move toward that direction. This event in itself holds a lot of promise.
Wrapping Up: A More Inclusive Future
When it all comes down to it, Blue Jay’s Cricket day recognizes and celebrates an oft-neglected fan base in baseball. Young and old players alike will see the event, see their favorite players who look like them, eat their food and think – maybe baseball is a game for me too.
