The Commissioner of Major League Baseball — the person who’s literally supposed to oversee the entire MLB with neutrality — admits he’s a Yankees fan. That’s going to ruffle some feathers. And not just in small market towns — we’re talking across the board.
Manfred Drops a Bomb on Barstool Podcast
Rob Manfred, the very top dog at MLB, went on Barstool’s Pardon My Take podcast and said, “I grew up a Yankees fan. I watch a lot of Yankees games still.” He also mentioned flipping between the Yankees, Mets, and the rest of the league using the Extra Innings package. Now, sure, on paper, that sounds like a regular baseball guy who just happens to run the league. But this isn’t your average fan. This is the commissioner.
Now think about it from the eyes of a Royals fan or a Pirates die-hard. You’ve been grinding through losing seasons, battling uphill with a shoestring payroll, and here’s the guy in charge — the very face of league balance and fairness — casually admitting he’s still tuning into Yankees games like a regular Bronx lifer. Even if he is watching the Mets too, the optics? Yikes.
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And the timing is wild. Manfred’s reputation has taken hit after hit — whether it’s the chaotic rule changes, expansion debates, or most infamously, the Astros’ sign-stealing saga. Remember how Yankees fans roasted him for that? Some were calling for his job. Now, just a few years later, he’s out here revealing he’s part of the pinstripe faithful? What a twist.
Let’s add some context here: Manfred was born in Rome, New York, which is upstate but still Yankee territory. His career in MLB started in the late ’80s, and over the years, he rose through the ranks, eventually succeeding Bud Selig as commissioner in 2015. The dude knows baseball — no doubt about that. But knowing the game and being its impartial guardian? That’s where it gets sticky.
Perception vs. Reality in a League of Giants
Because this is Major League Baseball. This isn’t your buddy running a fantasy league who happens to like the Yankees. This is the Commissioner, the one who’s supposed to hold all 30 franchises in the same regard, making sure the game is fair, not just on the field, but in the boardroom, in revenue sharing, in scheduling, and yes, in perception.
Now, to be fair to Manfred, he did say he tries to balance it out by watching the Mets and other teams. But try telling that to a Brewers fan who feels like the Dodgers and Yankees get every scheduling break and national TV slot. Or to A’s fans watching their team uproot while the Yankees continue to rake in massive revenue year after year.
It’s one of those things that feels innocent, maybe even nostalgic, on the surface — a guy just sticking with the team he grew up with. But when you’re the commissioner of baseball, those little admissions carry weight. And let’s be real: baseball fans are not exactly known for brushing this stuff off lightly.
So yeah, Yankees fans might give Manfred a little more slack after this. But around the league? Don’t be surprised if the pitchforks come out — again.
