The York Revolution announced it canceled and forfeited its scheduled Thursday game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs after several players refused to wear the team’s planned Pride Night jerseys. In a statement issued late Wednesday, the club said the decision was made with “great disappointment” and that tickets for the June 18 game will be treated as a rainout and may be redeemed for any future 2026 regular-season home game. “Unfortunately, several of our players have refused to wear the scheduled Pride Night jersey and the club decided that hosting the event is more important than forcing players to wear jerseys they are not comfortable with and playing the game,” the York Revolution club said. The special jerseys some players refused to wear featured rainbow sleeves. According to the Atlantic League bylaws, “uniformed personnel shall wear matching uniforms.””I was shocked,” said Christiana Wingert, executive director of the Rainbow Rose Center. “We’ve had this for 11 years. Ten years of this with no issues, never a problem. Lots of celebration, very little backlash.”Wingert, who worked alongside the baseball team to prepare for the event, said she learned of the cancellation through a phone call. The club criticized the players’ decisionThe club also criticized the players’ decision, saying it conflicted with the organization’s values.”To be clear; this action by the players is completely inconsistent with our vision as the Most Welcoming Place in York,” the statement said. The Revolution said it will donate $10,000 to the Rainbow Rose Center, describing the contribution as a gesture of regret over the last-minute change and as support for LGBTQIA+ community partners.The team said it expects to return to the field at home on Friday, June 19.Ticket exchange informationAccording to the club, tickets from the canceled June 18 game may be exchanged for any remaining 2026 regular-season home game, subject to availability.Exchanges may be made:In person at the Shipley Energy Ticket Office at WellSpan Park By phone at 717-801-HITS The ticket office is open: Game days: 10 a.m. through the end of the fifth inning Non-game days: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday General Manager respondsYork Revolution General Manager Ben Shipley asked the community for understanding, saying the team faced difficult dynamics and complex problems without a clean solution while emphasizing that WellSpan Park’s primary function is to welcome the community. “I would ask the community for understanding, running an organization in this way, with these difficult dynamics, having to find a solution to these complex problems, without a clean solution, is a difficult task,” Shipley said. “There’s no good way to get everybody everything that they want. But our primary function as WellSpan Park in York, Pennsylvania, is to welcome the community in and be the most welcoming place in York.” Rainbow Rose Center statementThe Rainbow Rose Center said it had been informed of the York Revolution’s decision to forfeit the game while continuing Pride in the Park as a free community event. In a statement, the organization said the situation had been difficult for many in the LGBTQIA+ community, but it appreciated the team’s commitment to ensuring the event would still take place. “We recognize that today’s decision was not an easy one,” the Rainbow Rose Center said. “For more than a decade, this event has represented far more than a baseball game. It has been a celebration of visibility, belonging, and community.”The group said its focus remains on supporting the community and encouraging people to come together. “Our focus tonight remains where it has always been: on our community,” the statement said. “We encourage everyone to join us in celebrating Pride, supporting one another, and demonstrating the resilience, strength, and joy that have always defined our movement.” Part of a broader Pride Night debate The York Revolution’s decision comes amid a separate Pride Night controversy involving the San Francisco Giants. During the Giants’ Pride celebration, several players did not fully participate, and some wore Bible verses on their caps.Vice President JD Vance also weighed in on the issue, posting on X, “Trump won we don’t have to do this anymore.”Major League Baseball later warned that personal messages written on uniforms are prohibited under league rules. See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.
YORK, Pa. —
The York Revolution announced it canceled and forfeited its scheduled Thursday game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs after several players refused to wear the team’s planned Pride Night jerseys.
In a statement issued late Wednesday, the club said the decision was made with “great disappointment” and that tickets for the June 18 game will be treated as a rainout and may be redeemed for any future 2026 regular-season home game.
“Unfortunately, several of our players have refused to wear the scheduled Pride Night jersey and the club decided that hosting the event is more important than forcing players to wear jerseys they are not comfortable with and playing the game,” the York Revolution club said.
The special jerseys some players refused to wear featured rainbow sleeves. According to the Atlantic League bylaws, “uniformed personnel shall wear matching uniforms.”
“I was shocked,” said Christiana Wingert, executive director of the Rainbow Rose Center. “We’ve had this for 11 years. Ten years of this with no issues, never a problem. Lots of celebration, very little backlash.”
Wingert, who worked alongside the baseball team to prepare for the event, said she learned of the cancellation through a phone call.
York Revolution
The club criticized the players’ decision
The club also criticized the players’ decision, saying it conflicted with the organization’s values.
“To be clear; this action by the players is completely inconsistent with our vision as the Most Welcoming Place in York,” the statement said.
Hearst Owned
The Revolution said it will donate $10,000 to the Rainbow Rose Center, describing the contribution as a gesture of regret over the last-minute change and as support for LGBTQIA+ community partners.
The team said it expects to return to the field at home on Friday, June 19.
WGAL
Ticket exchange information
According to the club, tickets from the canceled June 18 game may be exchanged for any remaining 2026 regular-season home game, subject to availability.
Exchanges may be made:
- In person at the Shipley Energy Ticket Office at WellSpan Park
- By phone at 717-801-HITS
The ticket office is open:
- Game days: 10 a.m. through the end of the fifth inning
- Non-game days: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday
WGAL
General Manager responds
York Revolution General Manager Ben Shipley asked the community for understanding, saying the team faced difficult dynamics and complex problems without a clean solution while emphasizing that WellSpan Park’s primary function is to welcome the community.
“I would ask the community for understanding, running an organization in this way, with these difficult dynamics, having to find a solution to these complex problems, without a clean solution, is a difficult task,” Shipley said. “There’s no good way to get everybody everything that they want. But our primary function as WellSpan Park in York, Pennsylvania, is to welcome the community in and be the most welcoming place in York.”
Rainbow Rose Center statement
The Rainbow Rose Center said it had been informed of the York Revolution’s decision to forfeit the game while continuing Pride in the Park as a free community event.
In a statement, the organization said the situation had been difficult for many in the LGBTQIA+ community, but it appreciated the team’s commitment to ensuring the event would still take place.
“We recognize that today’s decision was not an easy one,” the Rainbow Rose Center said. “For more than a decade, this event has represented far more than a baseball game. It has been a celebration of visibility, belonging, and community.”
The group said its focus remains on supporting the community and encouraging people to come together.
“Our focus tonight remains where it has always been: on our community,” the statement said. “We encourage everyone to join us in celebrating Pride, supporting one another, and demonstrating the resilience, strength, and joy that have always defined our movement.”
Part of a broader Pride Night debate
The York Revolution’s decision comes amid a separate Pride Night controversy involving the San Francisco Giants. During the Giants’ Pride celebration, several players did not fully participate, and some wore Bible verses on their caps.
Thearon W. Henderson
Vice President JD Vance also weighed in on the issue, posting on X, “Trump won we don’t have to do this anymore.”
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Major League Baseball later warned that personal messages written on uniforms are prohibited under league rules.
See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.
