In Defense of Steve Blass

While racism is a stain that will always be with us, it seems there are some people who insist on using the scarlet letter for the sake of doing so or in complete ignorance.




Enter longtime Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster Steve Blass. During last night's game between the Pirates and Atlanta Braves, Ronald Acuna, Jr. was plunked by Pirates pitcher Steve Brault. Blass commented, “Yeah, I was getting ready to say, you know, with a young player doing all that stuff and all the jewelry and all the stuff. Back in the day, I’m not saying it’s right or wrong...” After his colleague Greg Brown had suggested the pitch was thrown on purpose, Blass said, “No, I’m not suggesting that. That’s why I qualified it, back in the day.” After Acuna, Jr. stared back at Brault, Blass said, “Give it a rest. Think he’s trying to throw at you?”




Adam Bittner of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote, "Criticism was swift and severe, with many interpreting the exchange as a clear implication that if Acuña wasn’t struck on purpose, he deserved to be because of his jewelry and “stuff,” whatever that’s supposed to mean. Some even suggested that the comments carried racial overtones." The sports blog Awful Announcing accused Blass of engaging in dog-whistling.


No way. Blass pitched 10 seasons in the bigs, all in Pittsburgh and was teammates and close friends with the likes of Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Dock Ellis and Al Oliver among others. If Blass has disdain towards Acuna, Jr. it is generational, not racial. Indeed, Pittsburgh sports personality Colin Dunlap noted Blass made similar criticisms of Bryce Harper. Former Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Dorin Dickerson (who is African-American) has scoffed at the notion that Blass' intent was racist.


Speaking of generational, I would venture to guess that a vast majority of the people who are accusing Blass of racism had no idea he pitched much less knew he was part of baseball's most multiracial team in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Blass was deeply affected by Clemente's death and it has long been suggested that the event caused Blass to lose the ability to throw strikes and prematurely end his career. It would be nice if people of a certain age engaged in diligence and opened up a book once in awhile. Kindles don't count.


Blass will be retiring at the end of the 2019 season. Social justice warriors masquerading as sportswriters ought to have better things to do.