Amid the controversy surrounding his use of Jackie Robinson’s name in reference to Tim Anderson, New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson apologized to the late baseball player’s family. Donaldson said he held Robinson’s name “in the highest regard”.
The 36-year-old released a statement through his agency on Thursday, three days after MLB suspended him for one game for making inappropriate remarks toward Anderson.
Donaldson, the MVP of the 2015 American League Championship Series, referred to Anderson as “Jackie” in the first inning of Saturday’s game between the Chicago White Sox and the Yankees due to Anderson being a Black man. Donaldson said he was only joking when he made the reference.
In his statement, Donaldson reiterated his sentiments about the incident and apologized to the Robinsons. The former Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays player also said that he held the “true American hero’s” name “in the highest regards”.
“I would also like to apologize to Mrs. Rachel Robinson and the Jackie Robinson family for any distress this incident may have caused,” Donaldson said. “Jackie was a true American hero and I hold his name in the highest regard.”
‘I have the utmost respect for what Tim Anderson brings to the game of baseball’
Anderson did not speak to reporters before the game against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. Additionally, a spokesperson for the Jackie Robinson Foundation said the family had no comment.
Donaldson also said that he had the utmost respect for Anderson, whom he regarded as a great player and a great person. The 2019 NL Comeback Player of the Year also said that the incident was a misunderstanding, explained by the multiple exchanges they have had over the years.
“First and foremost, I have the utmost respect for what Tim Anderson brings to the game of baseball,” Donaldson said. “I stated over the weekend that I apologized for offending Tim and that it was a misunderstanding based on multiple exchanges between us over the years.”
Although his use of Jackie’s name was offensive, Donaldson maintained that he did not mean disrespect. He also said that he and Anderson had a mutual understanding that the situation had been resolved.
Offensive remark
Donaldson, who is white, said the “Jackie” remark was made in reference to a Sports Illustrated interview, in which Anderson said he was feeling like “today’s Jackie Robinson” because he had reached “a point where I need to change the game”.
Anderson, who played for the White Sox from 2008 to 2014, said that he and Donaldson had not gotten along well since the first Anderson was called “Jackie” in 2019.
“He did say that, and I told him we never have to talk again,” Anderson said. “I don’t speak to you, you don’t speak to me if that’s how you want to refer to me. I know, he knew exactly what he was doing because I already told him.”
Anderson played with Donaldson for the Minnesota Twins during the previous season, and the former claimed that he and Donaldson had not gotten along well since the comment. However, their relationship started to change on May 13, when Anderson slid into Donaldson at third base. Following their recent meeting in New York, Donaldson referred to Anderson as “Jackie” once more.
Donaldson was fined an undisclosed amount, and he was suspended for one game. The 2015 AL RBI leader was allowed to play for the New York Yankees while conducting his appeal process. Before the suspension was announced, the team placed Donaldson on the COVID-19 injured list.
