MLB Bullets won’t be in the Hall of Fame this year

For many, the annual induction ceremony of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown marks the high point of the baseball season. It’s usually late July and the season has resumed from the All-Star break. We have a good sense of how the divisions are shaking out, and who needs to get busy if they’re going to make it to the postseason.

It’s also a time to remind ourselves of how great baseball and those who play it can be, as we honor and remember the best of the best.

Unfortunately, in 2020 there will be no ceremony. Pending inductees Derek Jeter, Larry Walker, and Eras committee inductees Ted Simmons, and executive Marvin Miller won’t be entered into the hallowed halls until 2021, according to a recent release from the Hall of Fame.

It’s sad, absolutely, but at least we know the 2021 ceremony is going to be epic.

• Imagine being married to a player in quarantine? How might you help them stay in shape. Brittany Ghiroli and Alex Coffey spoke to six major league couples about how it’s going. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Dr. Anthony Fauci says we’re “not ready” for sports to return yet, in a piece by Chris Chavez.
• Jay Jaffe shares some insights onto the larger impact of cutting out some minor league teams.
• Ken Rosenthal says it’s not all rosy between MLB and their umpires. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Who doesn’t love a good mascot? Eric Chesterton looks at the evolution of each MLB club’s mascot.
• Alex Coffey asks “what if Jeremy Giambi had slid?” (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Little League World Series (and all regional tournaments) have officially been cancelled for 2020.
• Marc Craig continues his jersey series with a look at the classics. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• He also ranked baseball’s best uniforms. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Sorry, California, but as long as there’s a stay-at-home order, there won’t be sports, according to a report by Steve Gardner.
• Twitter user Don Kostelec shared the responses to angry letters his Cubs-fan father wrote to other franchises during the dreary 1981 season. (His dad stuck it out and ended up working at Wrigley in retirement and got to enjoy the 2016 victory.)

• Jayson Stark suggests it might be time for players to take control of their game. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• TMZ reports that the Houston Astros have blocked the charity auction of one of their 2017 World Series rings.
• Get your hankies out for this one, because I messy cried through the whole thing.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.