Braves Hazing
 

Major League Baseball announced Monday the banning of "offensive" hazing in clubhouses. The new rule will prevent fun pictures like this from happening:


Traditionally, toward the end of the regular season, after September call-ups, ball clubs have forced rookies to dress in costumes as a playful form of hazing and welcoming to the big leagues.

As part of the Anti-Hazing and Anti-Bullying Policy set forth by the league, the new policy will prohibit "requiring, coercing or encouraging [players from] dressing up as women or wearing costumes that may be offensive to individuals based on their race, sex, nationality, age, sexual orientation, gender identify or other characteristic," per Ronald Blum of the AP.

"Although it hasn't happened, you could sort of see how like someone might even dress up in black face and say, 'Oh, no, we were just dressing up,'" MLB vice president Paul Misfud said Monday, per Blum. "We've also understood that a number of players have complained about it."

The MLB Players Association agreed not to contest the ban. It will take effect today, when baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement is expected to be ratified.