The age-old MLB tradition of teammates soaking other teammates with booze will likely go on hiatus this postseason. (Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports)
The age-old MLB tradition of teammates soaking other teammates with booze will likely go on hiatus this postseason. (Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports)

REPORT: MLB expected to ban alcohol from postseason locker room celebrations


by - Senior Writer -

Adding to the surreal nature of the sports climate in 2020, MLB is reportedly expected to ban alcohol from locker room celebrations this year. A fixture of teams clinching playoff berths and winning playoff series is the booze-filled rowdiness captured on camera in the clubhouses afterward. Sadly, the popping of champagne bottles will be put on hold at least until the 2021 season.

The alcohol ban is being levied in response to COVID-19 and the need for more socially distant celebrations. Understandably, during a pandemic, spreading germs through chugging beer and champagne and spraying booze over each other would not be a wise thing for any MLB teams to be a part of, especially when the need to remain coronavirus-free during the postseason will be so pertinent.

MLB is also reportedly expected to urge players to avoid dogpile celebrations and wear their masks at all times during postgame festivities. When Alec Mills threw a no-hitter on Sunday, he was mobbed on the mound by his elated Chicago Cubs teammates. Unfortunately, joyous on-field scenes like that will be few and far between late in the regular season and throughout the playoffs, which is just another sad, yet reasonable, sports sacrifice made in the time of COVID-19.

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