Joe Torre stepped up to the plate in Albany on Monday, saying that to protect the game, organized baseball should get a cut of the…
Joe Torre stepped up to the plate in Albany on Monday, saying that to protect the game, organized baseball should get a cut of the action if the state authorizes sports betting.
“I’ve been in baseball almost 60 years,” he said. “It’s been my life. It’s very important to me and my family. The only thing I ask is that we be engaged.”
The former Yankees manager was honored in the capital as Italian-American of the Year by the New York Conference of Italian-American Legislators.
Before attending a luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion, he stopped by the Legislative Office Building to announce support for legislation that would allow sports betting within limits.
That would include a 25-cent fee to Major League baseball for every $100 wagered, restrictions on types of bets that can be placed, a continued ban on players betting and exclusion of the minor leagues.
“The fans trust us in baseball and I would hate to jeopardize that,” said Torre.
“I’m not trying to lobby on one side or the other. I’m just trying to take care of our game.”
Morgan Sword, MLB senior vice president of league economics and operations, said the leagues should be paid by casinos offering sports bets since they will depend on the games for their income.
“The sports leagues will bear a portion of the risks,” Sword said, adding that sports betting could generate new scandals for pro sports.
“We’re asking that the regulator consider requests from the league to limit certain types of bets. I’ll give you an example, betting on minor league baseball.”
Sword said the league also opposes bets on individual plays, like which pitcher will throw the first ball or strike.
“That would be problematic,” he said.
Though Torre said he’s enjoyed Las Vegas at times, he’s never been tempted to bet on baseball and said those who play the game should not be able to wager on it.
“Definitely not,” he said. “No betting.”
Torre’s visit came a week after his successor as Yankees manager, Joe Girardi, made the same pitch.
