The start of the new season has been lost after talks between players and owners broke down. Baseball is in danger of fading further into the background of US culture
It is only a screengrab, a capture of a fleeting expression that did not reflect the overall tone of his address to the media on Tuesday. But it might prove to be the image Rob Manfred is remembered for, on the day that may well define his tenure as Major League Baseball commissioner.
A smile. A toothy grin as he announced that the league and the players’ union have not reached a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement and so the first two series of the regular season, which was due to start on 31 March, are cancelled.
