MLBPA misused millions meant for youth baseball program: Whistleblower

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00:00The feds are investigating a youth baseball program owned by Major League Baseball's Players Union

00:05following a whistleblower complaint, according to an ESPN report.

00:09MLB Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark is accused of

00:13self-dealing, misuse of resources, abuse of power, and nepotism.

00:21This is a criminal investigation into Players' Way, the youth program Clark created in 2019.

00:27Records show the program spent at least $3.9 million over the last six years,

00:33and a source told ESPN that figure could be as high as $10 million.

00:38But during that time, the program hosted just a handful of live events,

00:43while reportedly barely clearing six figures in revenue, outside of what the unions pitched in.

00:49The report claims most of the millions were spent on six-figure salaries to executives and consultants of Players' Way,

00:56saying some of those people had full-time jobs outside of the program.

01:01Clark, who has not been charged with a crime, denied the allegations in a statement to ESPN.

01:08Clark said,

01:08Any suggestion that Players' Way has not been supported by our elected player representatives

01:14and broader membership is patently false.

01:18Players' Way has been front and center at every annual meeting of the MLBPA Executive Board in recent memory.

01:24There is much that needs to change with youth baseball in the United States.

01:28The members of the Major League Baseball Players Association created Players' Way to change the status quo.

01:34Clark said when he introduced Players' Way years ago,

01:37he wanted it to fix a broken youth system where young athletes are exploited by the billion-dollar youth sports machinery.

01:45We want to give every young person, regardless of age, economics, or ability,

01:50the chance to become the best player he or she can be.

01:53To be your best, you need to learn from the best.

01:55Players' Way partnered with the United States Specialty Sports Association

01:59and hired several former big league players.

02:02Former MLB catcher Chris Iannetta promoted the initiative in a YouTube video last summer.

02:08At all Players' Way events, we focus on pure development.

02:10We want to make you be the best that you could possibly be.

02:14So come to one of our events and work alongside former major and minor league baseball players

02:18that will help you develop and become a better baseball player.

02:21We'll work on all of your fundamental skills to make you better.

02:24But the events, according to the report, have been few and far between.

02:29Players' Way held just six youth clinics, four mental skills webinars,

02:33and a few panel discussions from 2019 through November 2024.

02:39The current schedule on the Players' Way website shows three past events

02:43and five upcoming events through March 2026.

02:48Multiple former union officials say Players' Way operates with

02:52no standard accounting practices and no annual budget circulated among senior finance officials,

02:58per ESPN's report.

02:59A former official claims there were no other events, activities,

03:03or partnerships with other youth baseball groups.

03:07The union would not say where the $3.9 million was spent.

03:11Federal investigators declined to comment on the ESPN report.

03:14The probe is part of a larger inquiry into the MLBPA's financial dealings

03:19with the NFL Players' Union and a company called One Team Partners.

03:24For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis.

03:29I'm Chris Francis.

03:30I'm Chris Francis.

03:31I'm Chris Francis.

03:32I'm Chris Francis.

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