Kalamazoo Growlers hand MLB commissioner Rob Manfred lifetime ban

The Kalamazoo Growlers have a simple mission – to make baseball as much fun as possible. Bat flips, celebrations after strikeouts or scoring runs, and anything possible that brings fun to the game are encouraged for both their team and the opposition at home games. It is a way to help grow the game and to show younger fans how much fun the game can be.

Understandably, that message includes those in the ballpark as well. With that in mind, the Growlers have announced a lifetime ban for MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, stating that he, amongst other things, “stands in direct opposition to [their] beliefs.”

Kalamazoo Growlers ban Rob Manfred for life

The Growlers are not the only team in the Northwoods League to place a ban on Manfred. The Bismarck Larks did the same, banning him from their ballpark until the lockout is settled. But that was not enough for the Growlers, who felt his transgressions against baseball deserve a far more stringent punishment.

It is fair to wonder how much of a punishment this actually is. It is doubtful that Manfred would actually go to a game of his own volition unless he is required to in order to present some award. After all, this is the commissioner that causes people to question whether or not he even enjoys the game he is supposedly in charge of.

It is also fair to wonder if Manfred is aware that Kalamazoo and Bismarck, or the Northwoods League for that matter, exist. His quests to push for the almighty dollar, strangle the fun out of the game, and break the union have to be entirely time consuming. But he does have time for a laugh, such as when he is announcing that the first week of the season has been canceled. In those moments, a lifetime ban does not feel like enough punishment.

The Kalamazoo Growlers have banned Rob Manfred from their games for life. Even that lifetime ban does not feel like enough punishment.