Baseball

He's bigger than ever -- but Pablo Sandoval's weight gain isn't bothering his boss ... with  SF Giants Manager Gabe Kapler insisting "Kung Fu Panda" can still ball.

Here's the deal ... Giants fans were shocked when the switch-hitting infielder -- listed at 5'10", 268 lbs -- reported to camp last week looking like he let himself go during the offseason.

Sure, there's been some fat-shaming online ... but the big question -- how will the weight gain affect his performance on the field?

According to Kapler, 33-year-old Pablo is still playing like a world-class athlete!

"I think it's understandable that in today's world we focus on weight," Kapler said on Sunday according to MLB.com ... "I get it."

"In this particular case, what we've all noticed about Pablo is that the ball is jumping off his bat, and his throws have nice carry."

"Obviously, we've had concerns about whether he was going to be ready [after Tommy John surgery] and at what point he was going to be ready to play 3rd base and 1st base. He's demonstrated that he's healthy. That's the most important thing."

Speak softly and carry a ... baseball bat?!

Donald Trump grabbed himself some lumber at the White House on Thursday ... and channeled his inner Babe Ruth, showing off his swing in front of an army of reporters.

POTUS had just finished speaking at the Spirit of America Showcase -- when he walked by a booth for the Texas Timber wood bat company and couldn't resist the urge to take a few hacks.

Remember, Trump claims he was a big baseball star as a teen at the NY Military Academy ... and has said he was talented enough to go pro -- though video of his baseball days has never surfaced publicly.

But, his stance looked good on Thursday. Solid grip on the bat. Squished the bug. Weird facial expression though.

The real question ... could he connect against live pitching?

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake is the first MLB player to officially opt out of the 2020 season ... with his agent confirming the news Monday morning.

The 32-year-old -- who nearly had a perfect game last season -- released a statement via Danny Horwits ... saying he will not be participating in the league's shortened 60-game plan next month.

"During this global pandemic, Mike and his family had many discussions about playing this season," the agent told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

"They took countless factors into consideration, many of which are personal to him and his family."

Horwits continued ... "After thorough consideration, he has chosen to opt out of playing in 2020. This was not an easy decision for Mike."

The agent did not reveal the reason Leake decided to sit out the season ... but more players are expected to follow leading up to next month's training camp.

"He wishes the best of luck and health for his Diamondback teammates this season and he's looking forward to 2021."

Leake's been a solid pitcher in the league since he made his debut in 2010 ... and won 12 games for the Mariners and Diamondbacks last year.

President Barack Obama is giving a special shout-out to legends like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson on the 100th anniversary of the Negro League ... praising the players for changing baseball history.

Of course, the Negro Leagues were created in 1920 because there was an unwritten rule that MLB teams couldn't sign black players ... until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947.

FYI -- some of the greatest players in the sport were minorities ... and there are 35 NL players in the Hall of Fame.

Obama -- along with other powerful people like Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Michael Jordan and current MLBer Nelson Cruz -- joined in on the "Tip Your Cap" campaign to honor the league on its 100th anniversary.

"Today, I'm tipping my hat to everybody in the Negro League who left a century-long legacy of talent, and spirit, and dignity on our country," Obama said.

"So here's to Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, and everybody else, including three brave women, who did us all proud."

Aroldis Chapman now has an insane ride to go with baseball's best fastball -- the MLB star just copped a ludicrous custom 6-wheeled Jeep ... that's covered in Kevlar coating!!!

TMZ Sports has learned the New York Yankees closer hit up South Florida Jeeps in Ft. Lauderdale about two months ago to get the custom whip made -- and it came out SICK!!!

Check out the pic of the ridiculous car ... we're told by shop honcho Joseph Ghattas it started out as a cut-in-half Jeep -- and it was all custom built by hand from there.

The ride has 600 horsepower, features blood-red interior from top to bottom ... and according to Ghattas, it's not only "unstuckable" while off-road, it vapor trails down highways as well!!

All told, Ghattas says the project took about 60 days to complete ... and cost Chapman right around $150,000 -- a small price to pay for a dude who just signed a 3-year, $48 MILLION contract with the NYY.

As for Chapman's reaction when he picked up the new whip this week ... Ghattas says he LOVED the creation -- saying, "He doesn't speak a whole lot of English, but 'f**king awesome' is pretty universal!"

Good news, bad news for Colorado Rockies fans ...

The good? BASEBALL'S BACK!!!!

The bad? Three players -- including megastar Charlie Blackmon -- have reportedly come down with coronavirus.

The stud right fielder -- who's been recently working out at Coors Field to gear up for the season -- tested positive late last week ... according to the Denver Post.

Reliever Phillip Diehl and pitcher Ryan Castellani also had positive COVID-19 results.

According to the Post ... only one of the players is showing symptoms -- although it's unclear if that's Blackmon, a 33-year-old, four-time All-Star.

Of course, the league just announced Tuesday it has plans to restart play next month ... but it remains to be seen just how officials will handle the recent outbreaks of coronavirus.

Remember, the Philadelphia Phillies just had at least 8 people test positive ... which ultimately led the MLB to lock down spring training facilities the past few days.

Officials seem confident they've got a sturdy plan in place regardless ... but if tests keep coming back positive -- could it derail the league's newly announced start time??

The Cincinnati Bearcats are scrubbing outspoken racist Marge Schott's name from their baseball stadium ... with the school announcing the change effective immediately.

Of course, Schott -- who owned the Cincinnati Reds from 1988-99 -- is infamously known for praising Adolf Hitler ... saying he was "good at the beginning, but he just went too far."

On top of that, Schott was banned TWICE from the MLB for racist comments ... and had been accused of using racial slurs when referencing her players.

UC -- which named the baseball stadium after Schott in 2006 following a posthumous $2 million donation -- voted unanimously to remove the name after a petition reached more than 10,000 signatures to take action.

"Marge Schott's record of racism and bigotry stands at stark odds with our University's core commitment to dignity, equity and inclusion," UC prez Neville Pinto said in a statement.

"My recommendation to the board to remove her name is grounded in the firm belief that speaking out against exclusion is as essential as speaking up for inclusion."

"I hope this action serves as an enduring reminder that we cannot remain silent or indifferent when it comes to prejudice, hate or inequity. More than ever, our world needs us to convert our values into real and lasting action."

Michael Jordan's autograph is crazy valuable -- even with thousands of signatures floating around -- but imagine owning the very 1st ball MJ EVER SIGNED!!

Well, if ya got the dough, you can buy what's (likely) Jordan's first autograph ... signed when Michael was a 13-year-old youth baseball player.

Here's the deal ... in 1976, Jordan played on Parkers Food Stores (a local grocery store & team sponsor) Babe Ruth League youth baseball team in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Jordan, who wore #10 -- along with his teammates -- signed a ball to commemorate their 11-3 season ... which ended in a championship.

The team's manager, Dick Neher -- who was a co-worker of MJ's dad, James Jordan -- held on to the ball for over 25 years before selling it in 2002.

Now, Goldin Auctions has acquired the 1-of-a-kind piece ... where it's available for auction online.

FYI -- GA recently sold a similar Derek Jeter piece (Jeetz signed when he was only 8) for $36k.

So, what's Jordan's sig gonna sell for? Well, Jeter's a LEGEND -- but he's not MJ -- so Goldin expects the ball to go for around $50k.

Awesome, right?!

At least SOME part of Mark McGwire belongs in the Hall of Fame ... so says Big Mac himself, who believes his 70th home run ball should be in Cooperstown STAT!!

"Bottom line," McGwire said out at LAX this week, "it should have been put in the Hall of Fame."

Of course, the ball can't exactly go there at the moment ... Todd McFarlane -- a legendary comic book artist -- famously bought it for over $3 MILLION just a few months after McGwire made history in 1998.

And, despite the ball's plummeting value (experts tell TMZ Sports it's worth only around $300K-$400K), McFarlane doesn't seem at all ready to part with it, even for the Hall.

He told us last week he still loves his purchase and it would take a "stupid number" for him to give it up.

In other words, don't bet on it ending up in the Hall, even if it'd take it.

As for Mark, he said he's at peace with the ball not being worth millions anymore, adding, "It dropped when Barry [Bonds] broke the record." But, the Cardinals legend did say he wouldn't mind autographing it!!

There's more ... McGwire went IN on the MLB's plan to allow a DH in the National League in 2020 -- saying he believes the role should be punted from baseball altogether.

Bruce Arena -- the former head coach for the U.S. Men's National Team -- is calling for an end to pregame Star-Spangled Banner renditions ... saying straight-up "it is inappropriate."

"I think it puts people in awkward positions," Arena told ESPN this week. "We don't use national anthem in movie theaters or on Broadway, or for other events in the United States."

"I don't think it is appropriate to have a national anthem before a baseball game or an MLS game."

Don't get it twisted, Arena -- a New York native and a current coach in the MLS -- says he's as patriotic as they come and understands why players kneel during the song.

But, Arena makes it clear he believes the whole thing is just unnecessary ... kneeling controversy or not.

"Think about it," Arena said. "In Major League Soccer, most of the players that are standing on the field during the national anthem are international players. They are not even Americans."

"So why are we playing the national anthem? With all due respect, I live in the greatest country in the world but I think it is inappropriate."

Of course, back in 2016 and 2017 at the height of the kneeling protests in the NFL ... some pundits suggested doing away with the anthems altogether to assuage the issue.

The SEC wants Mississippi to change its state flag ASAP ... and if it refuses -- the conference's commish is threatening to pull all future titles games out of the state.

SEC honcho Greg Sankey made the announcement Thursday ... saying "it is past time" government officials pull the plug on a flag that features prominent ties to the Confederacy.

"Our students deserve an opportunity to learn and compete in environments that are inclusive and welcoming to all," Sankey said.

"In the event there is no change, there will be consideration of precluding Southeastern Conference championship events from being conducted in the State of Mississippi until the flag is changed."

Of course, Sankey's press on Mississippi lawmakers is just the latest in a long line of efforts from Americans to cut ties with its Confederacy past.

Cities all over the country have ripped down statues of Confederate leaders in the wake of George Floyd's death ... while NASCAR has permanently banned the Confederate flag from its race tracks.

For their part, SEC programs Mississippi State Univ. (NFL star Dak Prescott's alma mater) and Ole Miss are backing their conference's leader in the fight against the flag.

"Since 2015, our Student Association, Robert Holland Faculty Senate and university administration have been firmly on record in support of changing the state flag," Miss. St. President Mark E. Keenum said.

"I have reiterated that view to our state's leaders on multiple occasions, including during face-to-face discussions in recent days and hours."

Here's how you KNOW you're rich -- when you drop $3 mil on a baseball that later plummets in value, AND YOU JUST DON'T CARE!

Case in point ... Todd McFarlane, who's explaining to TMZ Sports why he's not remotely bothered by the fact his Mark McGwire #70 home run baseball is only worth a fraction of what he paid for it.

Remember, Todd -- one of the most successful comic book artists of all time -- bought the record-breaking ball in '99, right after McGwire and Sammy Sosa wrapped up that famous home run chase.

Demand was high at the time -- but the steroid scandal (and Barry Bonds) caused the value to sink like a stone. Multiple experts say the ball is only worth around $300k to $400k these days ... if that.

So, we hit up Todd ... and wow, HE IS UNFAZED!!!

"If you look at it as buying a baseball, dollar in and dollar out, I'm the stupidest guy on the planet. It's a 3 dollar baseball. I overpaid by a million times that amount right so it doesn't make any sense," McFarlane says casually.

"Even as a collectible and again at this point, I didn't know the cloud of steroids were coming. I thought, in best case scenario, I could use it and then I can sell it and get my money back but I'd get all the value of in maybe being able to sell some sports figures."

"[But] even if I get $0 for it, I've made that money back 5 to 10 times over in the last 15 years."

How???

Long story short ... Todd says owning the baseball has unlocked all sorts of doors in the business world just from people curious to see it ... or just meet him.

Todd says he's been able to make a fortune from those deals -- so at the end of the day he's happy with the purchase.

"I keep saying to people, it was my ante to the poker game with the big boys."

"I bought that ball in 1999, it is now 2020 -- 21 years later you and I are still talking about it. Yesterday ESPN was giving me national attention. Every time we talk about that ball, I get to amortize it even further than I've already done it. So, I don't care if I get $20 for that ball. I'm clean on this deal."

When asked if there was a number that someone would offer to take the ball off his hands, McFarlane had a baller answer for that too!

"I don't know. It would have to be a stupid number that I don't think anybody would give and here is why I say that. Never take money that you don't need, right? So, if my businesses are hurting and somebody came in and gave me a low ball offer and I needed some investment capital or my kids were sick and I needed to pay some medical bills or whatever it was right? Even if I wanna buy a Maserati or something stupid, then I might take it. But as I sit here today, I don't know what I would do with the money regardless. It would have to be a dumb one because I'm better off to hold it."

We also asked Todd if there was a dream collectible he'd love to buy ... and you gotta hear his answer.

The Univ. of Florida is pulling the plug on its famous "Gator Bait" chant ... with the school's president saying its racist ties make it no longer acceptable for UF to use.

In a statement released Thursday ... President Kent Fuchs axed the popular cheer -- which has been screamed by thousands of fans weekly during Gators college football games over the years.

"While I know of no evidence of racism associated with our 'Gator Bait' cheer at UF sporting events," Fuchs said, "there is horrific historic racist imagery associated with the phrase."

"Accordingly University Athletics and the Gator Band will discontinue the use of the cheer."

If you're unfamiliar ... America's past use of "gator bait" truly is disturbing -- reportedly, white men would use African-American babies to lure gators out of swamps so they could hunt them more easily for their skin.

At UF sporting events ... the band would play some tunes and pause so the entire crowd could chant in unison, "Gator Bait!"

Fuchs said in addition to stopping all that ... the school will take even more steps to ensure racial justice -- vowing to remove any UF-controlled "monuments or namings" that have ties to the Confederacy.

The school president also said the Univ. of Florida will no longer receive labor from inmates ... adding, "the symbolism of inmate labor is incompatible with our university."