Rob Manfred draws lifetime ban from collegiate baseball team

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is getting hit where it really hurts.

The Kalamazoo Growlers, a collegiate baseball team based in Michigan, announced on Friday that they are banning Manfred for life from attending their games. In their statement announcing the ban, the Growlers ripped Manfred and the MLB team owners for “trying to ruin baseball simply for their financial gain.” The Growlers also said that Manfred stands in “direct opposition” to their firmly-held belief that “fun is the key to baseball.”

You can read the team’s full statement below.

RELEASE: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has been given a lifetime ban from Growlers games.

"The Growlers stand strong in their belief that fun is the key to baseball. Rob Manfred stands in direct opposition to these beliefs."

Official Statement: pic.twitter.com/FP7dYQk7Ws

— Kalamazoo Growlers (@kzoogrowlers) March 4, 2022

The Growlers play in the Northwoods League, a summer league for college baseball players. The team was founded in 2013, and its mascot is a black bear named Porter, who wears the No. 64 in reference to the number of ounces that a growler beer bottle holds. Ex-Detroit Tigers pitcher John Schreiber made it to the bigs after previously playing for the Growlers.

Another Northwoods League team, the Bismarck Larks, recently banned Manfred from attending their games as well but only until the lockout is resolved. The Growlers said in their statement that they felt a lifetime ban for Manfred was “the correct punishment for his transgressions.”

This development comes after Manfred announced earlier this week that he was cancelling MLB regular season games since the league failed to come to an agreement with the MLBPA on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Manfred also took major heat for smiling while making the announcement. He may not be smiling any more though now that he can no longer attend Kalamazoo Growlers games.

Photo: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports