A professional baseball team in Pennsylvania has announced it will forfeit its scheduled Pride Night game after players refused to wear jerseys featuring LGBTQ-themed designs, as reported [1] by Fox News.
The York Revolution, part of the Atlantic League, said the decision to cancel the matchup against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs “was not reached lightly.”
The organization expressed disappointment with its own players and emphasized its commitment to inclusion in an unusually strong public statement.
BREAKING: Minor league baseball team ‘York Revolution’ in PA was forced to CANCEL their Pride Night baseball game after players REFUSED to wear the rainbow Pride jerseys.
The team’s club is now hosting a separate pride event without any baseball game.
Good on the players for… pic.twitter.com/OFXPK8mcA8 [2]
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 18, 2026 [3]
The club said it was “deeply troubled and profoundly disappointed by the decisions of these few players,” adding that their stance ran counter to the team’s values.
The statement noted, “To be clear, this action by the players is completely inconsistent with our vision as the Most Welcoming Place in York.”
The Revolution had planned to wear special jerseys with rainbow-colored sleeves for the team’s eleventh annual Pride Night.
According to the organization, the uniforms are part of its long-standing tradition of celebrating diversity and acceptance within the community.
As a gesture of support for the LGBTQ community and to convey regret over the canceled event, the team pledged to donate $10,000 to the Rainbow Rose Center.
The statement described the donation as “a small token of our regret for the last-minute change of plans” and an effort to “support and further their work in making sure the York community is as inclusive as we strive to make WellSpan Park in York, Pennsylvania.”
Although the game will not be played, the Revolution said it would still host “a free and fun celebration of recognition and inclusion” on the scheduled date.
Fans with tickets have been offered exchanges for any remaining 2026 regular-season home games, depending on availability.
The team declined to identify the players involved in the refusal and did not confirm whether there would be disciplinary steps. A spokesperson also did not immediately respond to questions about whether the players would comment publicly.
The forfeit marks a stark moment for the organization, which recently celebrated back-to-back Atlantic League championships and features several experienced players, including former Major League relief pitcher Joely Rodríguez.
Thursday’s Pride Night was expected to be a highlight of the season, following years of themed community nights at WellSpan Park.
Despite the abrupt change, the team stressed its continued dedication to inclusivity, saying it wanted its stadium to remain a welcoming space for all fans.
The club’s next event, a “Juneteenth Celebration,” will take place the day after the canceled Pride game. The team said preparations for that community event are continuing as planned.
York currently holds a 28-22 record and trails by four games for the North Division lead. While this forfeit affects their standings, the organization’s statement focused more on values than competitive outcomes.
The situation echoes a similar controversy in Major League Baseball days earlier, when San Francisco Giants players wrote Bible verses on their Pride hats, prompting warnings from the league.
Both incidents have fueled broader discussions around the intersection of sports, expression, and inclusion.
At the same time, the Revolution reiterated that the episode would not deter its efforts to engage and support all members of its local community.
With its donation and planned Pride celebration still moving forward, the club positioned itself as seeking to reaffirm its message of unity, even as it confronted internal division.