Not only did the league fine the Red Sox for using the technology to steal signs, but it also fined the New York Yankees, who had initially brought the sign stealing case to the MLB, for using their television network cameras to steal signs as well. Both teams’ fines were then donated to relief funds for those who were affected by Hurricane Irma in Florida.

In pledging to donate the fines to the hurricane relief efforts, Major League Baseball is the true winner in my eyes. Half of MLB teams have minor league affiliates in Florida, with most of those teams’ facilities used by the senior squad for Spring Training workouts and preseason games. The Sox themselves have their Single-A affiliate in Fort Myers, FL, where they have built a scaled down replica of Boston’s Fenway Park. After Hurricane Irma, the Fort Myers area is completely flooded, with some residents losing power for five days.

The MLB is deeply rooted in the southeastern United States. Since the weather in the southeast is warm year-round, players are able to train outdoors for the full twelve-month year, an advantage over baseball players living up north. The Red Sox currently have six players who were born in areas of the south that were affected by Hurricane Irma, along with seven more players from islands in the Caribbean. These players include star pitcher Chris Sale, who is from Lakeland, FL, and went to college at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, two towns that were hit hard by Hurricane Irma.

Red Sox players have been pitching in as well with hurricane relief efforts. Sale has maintained constant contact with his family in Florida, donating money to relief efforts as well. Recently, players representing the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, along with players from the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers hockey teams, walked the streets of Boston around Fenway Park prior to a game between the Sox and Rays collecting donations to the Red Cross’ Hurricane Irma relief fund.