Brandon Raphael stumbled upon a substantial envelope while browsing through his team’s mail, creating quite the stir. Inside, he found a letter from doctors who were urging his collegiate summer baseball team, the Macon Bacon, to reconsider the impact their name has on fans’ health. The letter, signed by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, an influential nonprofit promoting plant-based diets, voiced concerns about the glorification of bacon and its association with colorectal cancer and various other diseases.
At first, Raphael, the president of the Macon Bacon, believed the letter to be a joke. However, the organization’s concern quickly became evident as they erected a billboard on Macon, Georgia’s main highway with the message: “Macon: Keep Bacon Off Your Plate.”
Raphael swiftly refuted the allegations that the Macon Bacon was glorifying bacon. In an effort to put an end to the controversy, he held a press conference at the team’s stadium, steadfastly declaring, amidst cheers from supporters, that the Macon Bacon name would never change.
According to Raphael, the name was chosen by fans from a poll when the team was established in 2017. It embodies the team’s playful and lighthearted spirit, and it was never meant to endorse the consumption of cured meat. “Everybody loves the name, and we do, too,” stated Raphael proudly.
Macon, having previously hosted a minor league baseball team for almost a century before their relocation to Rome, Georgia in 2003, welcomed baseball back with open arms in 2017. The summer collegiate team hosted college players from across the United States for a few months each year.
Fans were invited to suggest team names, and after receiving nearly 1,500 submissions, the club narrowed it down to Macon Bacon, Macon Heat, Macon Hits, Macon Noise, and Macon Soul. Macon Bacon overwhelmingly won the online poll and was officially announced as the team name in September 2017.
The team soon introduced their mascot, Kevin, a 7-foot-tall strip of bacon named in honor of the renowned actor Kevin Bacon. The entertainment team performing between innings was dubbed the “Sizzle Squad,” and the team’s hats and jerseys featured letters and numbers designed to resemble bacon strips.
Fans could also partake in the bacon-themed experience with options such as bacon-wrapped bacon and bacon-loaded fries available at the concession stand. Bacon could be added to any item on the menu.
Raphael, 46, emphasized that it was all in good fun. However, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine argued that there could be severe consequences. Anna Herby, the committee’s nutrition education program manager, had worked with numerous cancer patients and expressed her wish that they had been educated about the risks associated with processed meats.
On June 1, Herby sent the letter suggesting Raphael change the team’s name to “Macon Facon Bacon,” alluding to a vegetarian alternative. She cited research linking bacon consumption to increased risks of colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancers, cardiovascular disease, and overall mortality.
Herby explained, “Bacon is incredibly popular, yet we seldom discuss the dangers posed by certain foods. What we are trying to do is change the environment, making it easier for people to make healthier choices.”
On June 6, the committee erected an anti-bacon billboard on Interstate 16, featuring a skull above a home plate, further amplifying their message.
Initially, Raphael had no intentions of responding to the letter, but as the controversy gained media attention, he felt compelled to make a statement. “We are here for our fans,” proclaimed Raphael, “We are here for our community. And we are here for bacon.”
While Herby didn’t expect an immediate name change, she hoped that the team would consider offering fans more plant-based food options. “People may be upset when they learn that bacon isn’t healthy, but I hope it plants a seed for possible future changes,” she expressed. “When individuals are ready to make a change, they can remember the risks and explore healthier alternatives.”
The Macon Bacon isn’t the only sports team to face calls for change from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Recently, they criticized the Indianapolis 500, an event where champions traditionally douse themselves in milk, and the Milwaukee Milkmen, an independent baseball team, for their promotion of the beverage.
Although numerous sports teams have altered mascots that were considered offensive in recent years — such as the Washington Commanders and the Cleveland Guardians — no prominent teams have changed their names due to food-related health concerns.
This is unlikely to change anytime soon as the Macon Bacon managed to sell out all 3,256 tickets before their last home game on Saturday.
“Bacon is forever,” affirmed Raphael. “And that’s where we’re at.”
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