It’s official: after weeks of speculation about partial seasons and games sans fans, MiLB President Pat O’Connor announced on June 30th that the affiliated leagues of MiLB will not play at all in 2020.

Independent leagues will likely follow suit. The Atlantic League had already scrapped official play for the year. As of this writing the Pecos League plans on a limited schedule to be played in Texas, but that may be doomed as well.

It’s possible that the pandemic will be looked upon as the final straw in the contentious negotiations between MLB and MiLB for renewal of their agreement in September of this year. It appears increasingly likely that MLB’s plans to contract leagues will come to pass, as several minor league clubs are in grave financial straits and may not survive this baseball-less summer. The pandemic could end up doing the contracting for MLB Commissioner Manfred.

It’s a sad day indeed. All the more reason to buy my book! Take a look at the “Collector’s Guide” page and take one home! A historical record of what minor league baseball looked like pre-Covid is what we all need right now.

-Tony Baseballs