It wasn’t a big deal, and at the time, and its action didn’t receive much national attention in the baseball world. Yet, that December 1, 2017 decision by the Houston Astros to non-tendered pitcher Mike Fiers, making him a free agent, may long live as a significant footnote in baseball history as the beginning of the end of the Astros pitch-stealing scandal that remains hanging as a dark cloud over the game as MLB teams continue their spring training preparation in Florida and Arizona.

It was Fiers, a journeyman pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers in 2018 and the Oakland A’s in 2019, who first reported details of the Astros trashcan banging shenanigans to reporters from The Athletic this past November. Since then and the subsequent release of Baseball Commissioner’s Rob Manfred’s January 13 report, the baseball world has reacted with anger directed at the Astros for the teams under-manning of the integrity of the game.

Unless you have been living under a rock or have a total disinterest in the resulting proceedings, you probably have your own thoughts and opinions as to what has taken place. Many athletes have chimed in regarding the ‘apologies’ that have been issued by the Houston players and their management. Most have expressed dismay that the ‘apologies’ have not been genuine and have clamored that more penalties should be assessed against the team.

Manfred’s actions included fining the Astros $5-million (the most that can be levied under baseball law), the forfeiture of the first-round draft picks for the next two years, and a year-long suspension for former manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow. Houston owner Jim Crane quickly responded by firing both Hinch and Luhnow from their positions.

Most likely repercussions relating to what Houston did will be directed against the team by players, fans and the media alike when the 2020 baseball season begins. Apologies aside, their actions will not soon be forgotten.

While in some ways sports are a reflection of society, the sports culture itself has its own apologetic history.

If you’ve spent any time watching youth or high school basketball this winter, you’ve no doubt seen self-reporting athletes almost immediately point to themselves saying ‘my bad’ after they have made some kind of mistake on the court. Such self acknowledging doesn’t make the mistake go away and doesn’t soothe the coach who knows it was ‘their bad,’ but at least the athlete is fessing-up to his/her mistake.

Whether or not there will be any future ‘apologies’ emanating from Houston that will be accepted in the court of public opinion remains to be seen. Still, the sporting world has listened to many ‘apologies’ over the years.

Before the advent of public relations damage control machines, the 1919 Chicago ‘Black Sox’, that contrived to fix the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, clearly missed the mark with their ‘apology.’ They responded to the public, stating, “We weren’t trying to offend anyone.”

Mark McGwire, who hit a record-setting steroid-aided 70 home runs with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1998, appeared before Congress telling them, “I am not here to talk about the past.” In a later interview with Bob Costas, he proclaimed he believed he would have hit as many home runs without the use of PEDs, stating, “The only reason I took steroids was for health purposes.”

After years of denying he ever bet on baseball following his banishment from the game Pete Rose finally did come clean in 2013, stating, “If I’ve learned anything over the past 20 years since my banishment from baseball, it’s to own up to my failures right away. I was feeling sorry for myself when I compare my vice to others, including abuse and drinking. Of course, all vices are not to be excused. I know gambling almost destroyed baseball, and I have accepted the way Commissioners Giamatti, Vincent and Selig acted towards me.”

That same year cycling star Lance Armstrong and seven-time Tour De France champion Lance Armstrong accused of doping came clean on the Oprah Winfrey show. “I made my decisions. They’re my mistake. I’m sitting here today to acknowledge that and to say I’m sorry for that.”

Sometimes, like Alex Rodriquez, a player can mess-up, lie about it and go on to greater achievements. A-Rod, after many years of denying his use of PEd’s in 2001-2003, finally offered a public apology a decade later. “Back then, it was a different culture. I was very loose. I was stupid. I was naive. I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time. I did take a banned substance, and for that, I am very sorry and deeply regretful.”

Similar to the fate suffered by the character ‘Smalls’ in the movie “The Sandlot,” the Houston Astros have given baseball a black eye. How soon, or whether they can recover, is yet to be known. For inspiration, perhaps they can look to ARod himself. Once a rising star, then a tainted player, he has risen to respectability, TV stardom, and a glamorous personal life with Jennifer Lopez. No apologies needed for that gig!