Hello and welcome to On Deck Circle for today, Wednesday, March 10, 2021.
Your need to read time today is 2 minutes.
Today’s LGBTQ Sports History Highlight:
On this day in 1941, Lee MacPhail, the Brooklyn Dodgers’ general manager, made a bold prediction that came true 30-years later: He declared that one day all batters would wear helmets at the plate. Major League Baseball made it mandatory in 1971, even though some old timers — among them, Norm Cash, Bob Montgomery and Tony Taylor — continued to wear cloth caps with liners under a grandfather clause.
Why did McPhail say such a thing? Two Dodgers, Joe Medwick and Pee Wee Reese, got beaned, and it was so bad, the GM made the entire team wear protective helmets. Those early helmets were based on the ones worn by jockeys, pretty much a normal baseball cap with a hard liner. In years to follow, new helmets came along, like the ones in 1983 with an ear flap, and in 2013, a Rawlings model strong enough to withstand the impact of a 100-mph fastball. So now you know the story behind baseball’s ugliest but most necessary fashion accessory!
Today’s Outsports Headlines:
Gay rower was part of secret LGBTQ military network during Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
Joanna Lohman’s new book shares insights into the empowerment of women’s sports
These two out curling stars finally squared off in national championship tournament
Other LGBTQ Sports stories making news…
Why do dozens of U.S. states want to ban transgender women from sport?
Amazon, Nissan among businesses speaking out against Tennessee bills targeting LGBTQ communities
Today’s SB Nation’s top story…
The drop in the NFL salary cap is going to cause chaos
Top LGBTQ News…
Milo Yiannopoulos says he is ‘ex-gay,’ wants to rehabilitate ‘conversion therapy’
Jesse Tyler Ferguson Jokes That He’s Raising His Son ‘Gay Until He Decides He’s Straight’
Jake Graf has always known his true pronouns: ‘Those pronouns have kept me going’
Riverdale actor Lili Reinhart challenges bisexual stereotypes with her latest tweets
Today’s OutShout:
A big welcome to the new members of GO! SPACE! Michael Norton, Elizabeth Wallentine, Jay Blasko and Joseph Evola!
If you’re an LGBTQ person in sports looking to connect with others in the community, head over to GO! SPACE to meet and interact with other LGBTQ athletes, or to Equality Coaching Alliance to find other coaches, administrators and other non-athletes in sports.
Social Media Spotlight:
LGBTQ youth advocate and educator Micah Porter shared this message on Instagram: “I love visiting my therapist. Open 24 hrs a day. $9.99 a month. Best deal in town. I can even use my HSA for payment!”
If you want your social media post to be included here, or to share one showcasing LGBTQ sports, email us the link at [email protected] or tag @Outsports on Instagram or Twitter!
Today’s Outsports Podcast:
Nearly every day of the week, Outsports has a new podcast for your enjoyment. Today, researcher and runner Joanna Harper takes time to walk our Karleigh Chardonnay Webb through her latest paper, which shows why trans athletes should be able to compete in women’s sports. The acclaimed scientist beamed up to The Trans Sporter Room podcast to explain why transgender female athletes don’t hold a sustained competitive advantage. Listen here:
This and all Outsports podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and on every platform where you find Outsports!
Today’s Sports Calendar:
MLB Spring Training:
Exhibition games are underway! Click here for MLB’s guide to your favorite teams’ schedules.
NHL:
Click here for ESPN’s schedule of men’s pro hockey action today.
NBA:
Click here for ESPN’s schedule of men’s pro basketball action today.
NCAAM:
Click here for ESPN’s schedule of men’s college basketball action today.
NCAAW:
Click here for ESPN’s schedule of women’s college basketball action today.
SOCCER:
Click here for ESPN’s schedule of soccer action today.
Share your thoughts in the comments below or email us at [email protected]
A new On Deck Circle posts every weekday morning on Outsports.com
