The 2025 Major League Baseball season kicked off with a pair of games in the Tokyo Dome featuring the biggest star the sport has seen in decades. Shohei Ohtani led the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in a two-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs. According to MLB, the games were a massive success, setting new records for international viewership, merch sales and attendance.
In addition to reigning MVP Ohtani, the Dodgers have another two players who were born in Japan, a Canadian-American World Series MVP at first base, a Dominican-born All-Star in left field and the game’s most popular African American player (and also Hall of Fame–level bowler) switching to shortstop for the 2025 season. The guys in Dodger blue are a shining example of how diversity in baseball leads to a superior on-field product.
The no longer lovable losers from Chicago, the Cubs, are another club that changed their fortunes due to leaning into diversity. The club once had the longest championship drought in the four major North American sports leagues, but that ended in 2016. Thanks to new ownership in 2009, the Ricketts family went out and got the best mind in baseball (and proud Democrat), Theo Epstein, to turn around the historically dumb club.
The on-field product for the Cubs has been similar to the Dodgers, and the ownership group is even more diverse, even though it’s the same family. The patriarch of the family, Joe Ricketts, donated millions of dollars to help Donald Trump and other GOP members win elections since 2008. (Before that he gave to members of both parties.) Joe’s daughter and fellow Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts has also donated millions of dollars, but hers has gone entirely to folks on the blue other side of the aisle. Political diversity in the front office of the Cubs hasn’t hurt one bit, at least when it comes to winning games, selling tickets and making more money than 26 other clubs in Major League Baseball.
With a view of the U.S. Capitol Building (if you’re in the upper deck), the Washington Nationals hosted their annual media tour on Friday. The ball club highlighted some of their new food offerings (around 40 local restaurants ranging from Korean hot dogs to Thai-inspired popcorn are offered throughout the park), giveaways and themed games. As part of the “Art of the Game” initiative, “local artists from diverse backgrounds, including Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli, each brought the Curly W to life in their own way with unique perspectives and identities.” The 2025 Heritage Days will celebrate Japanese, AAPI, Korean, Italian, Filipino, Taiwanese, Hispanic and Salvadoran cultures.
The Nats annual Night OUT is also returning. Pride-themed games are also returning for the 27 of the 28 other clubs that had Pride celebrations in 2024. (The Texas Rangers were the one team that did not participate in 2024 and will once again not be participating in 2025. But the Rangers do have an HBCU Diamond Day, Hispanic Heritage Night and multiple other themes that would work well in a DEI initiative. The Yankees participated in 2024 but have yet to announce their 2025 plans.)
