Baseball fans across America are boiling mad after the White House revealed that President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a US-Russia baseball series during their March 18 call. “The Russians don’t deserve to play baseball with the Americans—it’s impossible,” the White House statement read, quoting Trump directly. The idea, buried in talks about Ukraine, has sparked a firestorm, with fans slamming it as a betrayal of the sport’s spirit.

The call, meant to address the Russia-Ukraine war, veered into sports. Trump, a self-proclaimed dealmaker, floated a series pitting American MLB stars against Russian players—despite Russia’s thin baseball history. “Putin liked it—thinks it’d be fun,” Trump reportedly said, per a White House aide. The Kremlin confirmed the chat, calling it a “friendly aside.” But fans aren’t laughing. Baseball, America’s pastime, feels sacred—Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and its sports bans make this a gut punch.

Social media’s on fire. “Trump’s lost it—Russia can’t even field a team!” a Philly fan posted on X, racking up 10,000 likes. A Detroit diehard raged, “They’re war criminals, not ballplayers—keep ‘em out!” The backlash echoes last year’s hockey series uproar—Putin pushed for NHL-KHL games, but fans and leagues balked. Baseball’s different—Russia’s no powerhouse; their national team barely ranks globally. “It’s a joke—America’s pastime isn’t their playground,” a Texas commenter fumed.

The White House tried to spin it. “President Trump was clear: Russians don’t deserve this—it’s a long shot,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at 8:00 PM PDT. “He’s just exploring options.” Too late—fans heard “series” and ran with it. MLB stayed mum, but insiders say owners cringe at the optics—Russian doping scandals and Ukraine’s war scars loom large. “No one’s catching a Putin pitch here,” a league source quipped.

Trump’s no stranger to riling fans—his 2019 World Series boos still echo. Putin’s angle? Maybe a propaganda win—soft power through sports. Russia’s been iced out of global competitions since 2022; this could crack the door. “He’s trolling us,” a fan tweeted. “Baseball’s ours—hands off.” The White House insists Trump’s quote was a dig, not a deal, but the damage is done—Opening Day’s March 27, and tempers are hot.

Fan fury’s split by team loyalties. Yankees fans demand a boycott; Dodgers backers mock Russia’s lineup. “They’d strike out in T-ball,” one jabbed. Hinch and Thomson’s recent Phillies-Tigers spat feels tame now—baseball’s facing a geopolitical curveball. Will MLB bend? Doubtful—public pressure’s fierce. “Trump’s out of bounds—keep Putin off our fields,” a petition with 50,000 signatures reads.

For now, it’s talk—no games set. But the idea’s a live wire. Trump’s “impossible” line might’ve been a throwaway, but fans aren’t letting it slide—baseball’s too American to share with Russia.