Why did Texas Rangers not host Pride Night? NL West leaders only team in MLB to skip celebrations

The Texas Rangers were the only team in the MLB not to mark Pride Month with a specially designated "Pride Night." This has led many to wonder why the team has made this rather uncommon decision.

With June being Pride Month, nearly every team in the MLB took one night to honor the LGBT community and pay tribute to the social advancements that have been made in that area.

While the MLB establishment is very much on-board with the celebrations, as are almost all of the league's teams, some players expressed their disagreement with Pride Night festivities.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass was released by his team just days after he shared anti-LGBT content on his personal Instagram page, while Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers openly spoke against his team's occasion.

However, in an apparent effort to circumvent controversy altogether, the Texas Rangers were the only team in baseball not to schedule an LGBT celebration at their stadium.

According to the team's COO Neil Leibman, the team wanted to support the LGBT community in a tangible way, while maintaining an element of neutrality in what has, unfortunately, become a rather political issue. The organization also feels that the impact it has had on the LGBT community goes further than just having a Pride Night.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the team released a statement in which it said:

"Our commitment is to make everyone feel welcome and included in Rangers baseball. That means in our ballpark, at every game, and in all we do – for both our fans and our employees."

The Texas Rangers hosted a Pride Night back in 2003. It got a very unpopular response from the attendees and has not been scheduled in the 20 years since.

With a record of 44-27, the Texas Rangers currently lead the AL West, with a 4.5-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels. Considered to be one of the league's premier teams at the moment, courting controversy does not seem high on the agenda.

Texas Rangers' decision may be reflection of a more conservative fanbase

While Pride Nights at ballparks based in California or New York may indeed draw mass support, if 2003 taught us anything, it's that Rangers fans prefer their team to stick to baseball. Either way, the league has done a good job of making everyone feel included in the sport.

Whether the Rangers reintroduce Pride Night celebrations in the future remains to be seen.