By now you may have figured out that MLB and the Players Association were able to reach a new collective bargaining agreement on Thursday.
In fact, there was a very simple way to tell the madness had ended after 99 days of an owner-imposed lockout: MLB players began restoring their avatars on social media.
If this seems like a strange harbinger for the return of the sport, let us explain:
When the owners officially locked out the MLBPA, the league and its teams could no longer use photos or likeness of players in the union. Instead, all MLB roster pages featured empty silhouettes where players faces would normally be. That quickly became a rallying cry on social media as players, fans and supporters of the MLBPA removed their avatars in solidarity.
Once the lockout was lifted on Thursday, the players couldn’t wait to change their avatars back:
#NewProfilePic IVE GOT A FACE AGAIN!! pic.twitter.com/GwaiXRU649
— Alex Wood (@Awood45) March 10, 2022
players are changing their pics back and Cutch immediately won pic.twitter.com/qFCiiaxnTw
— Gabrielle 🌻 (@gfstarr1) March 10, 2022
Let’s goooooooooo! #BaseballIsBack
— Randal Grichuk (@RGrich15) March 10, 2022
We’re back. #LGM pic.twitter.com/hTw5Vn5nDi
— James McCann (@McCannon33) March 11, 2022
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/zYmx9qIvxR
— Michael Lorenzen (@Lorenzen55) March 10, 2022
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/E12esoiicc
— Noah Syndergaard (@Noahsyndergaard) March 10, 2022
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) March 10, 2022
#NuevaFotoDePerfil pic.twitter.com/wJzPTdPNz9
— Jesus Aguilar (@JAguilarMKE) March 10, 2022
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/h9Qd149KPC
— Frankie Montas (@FrankieMontas) March 10, 2022
Here’s hoping we don’t have to see these faces go away again anytime soon.
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