Was 2013 the Year of Safety in Sports?
Catchers like this one are “sitting ducks” when there is a close play at home plate. Runners often collide with the catcher, causing injury. MLB is considering a ban on home plate collisions.
Is “bigger, stronger, faster” still the mantra in baseball?
The end of 2013 brought news of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) proposed ban on home plate collisions. Collisions involving a base runner bowling over a catcher to beat the ball to home plate have caused countless injuries over the years — to both catchers and runners. But they have also been heralded as exciting and pivotal plays responsible for big wins on the diamond (read more in a recent NY Daily News article).
The timing of MLB’s self-examination is interesting in light of professional football players’ recent lawsuits against the National Football League (NFL) for its failure to protect its players from the known effects of concussion.
As the news of MLB’s proposed rule change became public, reaction was mixed. Some former players feel it is about time MLB has taken a stand to protect its players, while others feel that collisions at home plate are par for the course and the players need to accept the risk to play the game.
Virginia sports injury lawyer Doug Landau, a competitive athlete himself, understands the pull between the drive to win a game (or race, match, etc.) at all costs, and the need to keep the body safe. But in the end, Landau believes safety must be the first priority, as civilized society has a responsibility to protect the health of its citizens.
“With all that is known today about the long-term effects of concussion, and second impacts, we owe it to athletes — young, old, professional, recreational — to stress safety first. Imagine the generations of youngsters who watch professional sports, live or on TV. Children learn by watching. Do we want our little leaguers to believe they need to crash home plate, knocking over and injuring the catcher, just to score a run? Do we want them to think that bigger and stronger is always better? Do we want them to think that their still-growing crania and brains are unbreakable ? Sports are supposed to promote our health, well-being and longevity, not the opposite !”
MLB’s proposed ban will be voted on by the players and could take effect as early as this upcoming season. A welcome change, according to Lawyer Landau. If you or someone you know has been injured while playing a sport or competing in some athletic endeavor and there are questions as to what laws apply, email or call us at Abrams Landau, Ltd. at once (703-796-9555).