San Francisco joins in urging MLB to move 2011 All-Star game in Arizona immigration boycott

SF officials ask MLB to boycott Arizona

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco city officials went further in their call for a boycott of Arizona on Friday, urging Major League Baseball to find a new home for the 2011 All-Star Game, currently scheduled to take place in Phoenix.

The letter that city attorney Dennis Herrera sent to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig asked him to boycott the state unless Arizona’s stringent new anti-illegal immigration law is repealed. A New York congressman and civil rights organizations have made the same request.

The law requires law enforcement to question those suspected of being in the country illegally.

Herrera’s letter says the law would threaten “millions of Americans who are Latino or who may appear to be of foreign origin — including Major League Baseball players and their fans.”

According to MLB, about 30 percent of players were born abroad. About 40 percent of are Hispanic.

San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom has also banned city employee travel to the state, and convened an Arizona Boycott Workgroup to identify city contracts and purchasing agreements with Arizona that could be canceled without penalty.

Michael Weiner, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, issued a statement Friday saying the MLBPA opposes the Arizona immigration law, which could have a negative impact on hundreds of Major League players who were born abroad.

“We hope that the law is repealed or modified promptly,” Weiner said. “If the current law goes into effect, the MLBPA will consider additional steps necessary to protect the rights and interests of our members.”