(New York) Josh Donaldson has apologized to the wife and family of Jackie Robinson for making a reference to the legendary black player during a spat with Chicago White Sox star Tim Anderson.
Posted at 1:54 p.m.
The New York Yankees third baseman was suspended for one game and fined Monday by the Major Leaguers. Major League Baseball said Donaldson’s comments Saturday “were disrespectful and showed poor judgment.” Donaldson challenged the penalties.
“First and foremost, I have boundless respect for what Tim Anderson brings to baseball,” Donaldson said in a statement released Thursday by his representative agency, MVP Sports. I said this weekend that I apologized for offending Tim and that it was a years-old misunderstanding between him and me. My opinion on this exchange is the same, and I meant absolutely no disrespect to him. It was never an issue in the past, but now that it is, we will have to find common ground.
“I would also like to apologize to Mr.me Rachel Robinson and the family of Jackie Robinson for all the trouble this incident has caused. Jackie is a true American hero and I have great respect for his legacy,” he added.
Donaldson said Saturday after the meeting that he called Anderson “Jackie” twice. Robinson broke racial barriers in the Major Leagues in 1947. Dugouts and bullpens emptied as a result of that spat.
Anderson countered that Donaldson tried to “provoke” him with his comments. White Sox manager Tony La Russa called Donaldson’s comments “racist” adding “they couldn’t be more offensive”. Anderson agreed with La Russa’s comments, and reiterated that he is “on the same page as him.”