From the Black Sox to Pete Rose to Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter, baseball has endured its fair share of gambling scandals throughout its history.
MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark addressed the issue ahead of Game 1 of the World Series, acknowledging the challenges MLB faces in the wake of this week’s high-profile gambling scandal in the NBA.
“There is a lot of work to be done,” Clark told reporters Friday at Rogers Centre, according to ESPN. “It’s just a different world. So every time, again, something happens, yeah, our concerns become greater, and everyone on some level recognizes that the world was going to be different.”
Clark also expressed concern about player safety, particularly threats from gamblers targeting athletes. He recounted that after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to legalize sports betting in 2018, players quickly reached out to the union about being followed by gambling sites and other entities.
“We work closely with the league to ensure the safety and well-being of our players,” Clark said. “So that remains front and center. That alone, with the educating of our players, making sure that they understand what they can and can’t do, is consistent and constant.”
Highlighting that the concern around gambling scandals only grows stronger, Clark emphasized, “Rest assured, every time there’s a situation that arises related to gambling, the concern doesn’t lessen. It gets greater.”
Recent incidents in MLB underline the ongoing battle against gambling-related issues. Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were placed on non-disciplinary leave in July as part of an MLB sports betting investigation. Additionally, Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano was banned for life in 2024 for placing bets on games.
Beyond baseball, the NBA has been rocked by a major gambling scandal involving arrests of players such as Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier, connections to Mafia families, and even links to high-profile teams like the Lakers and LeBron James.
Amid these troubling developments, Clark also touched on labor negotiations, firmly rejecting the idea of a hard salary cap in upcoming discussions. Referring to the topic as “a lot of chatter,” he made it clear that the union remains opposed to such measures.
As gambling continues to intersect with professional sports, MLB and its players’ union recognize the need for vigilance, education, and protective measures to safeguard the integrity of the game and its athletes.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/24/sports/mlbpa-head-tony-clark-calls-out-safety-concerns-for-players-amid-nba-gambling-scandal/