(New York) Josh Donaldson has apologized to Jackie Robinson’s wife and family for making a reference to the legendary black player during an altercation with Chicago White Sox star Tim Anderson.
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 on 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 didn’t mean to disrespect you. It was never an issue in the past, but now that it is, we’ll have to find common ground.
“I would also like to apologize to Mr.me Rachel Robinson and Jackie Robinson’s family for all the trouble this incident has caused. Jackie is a true American hero and I have great respect for his legacy,” she added.
Donaldson said Saturday after the meeting that he called Anderson “Jackie” twice. Robinson broke down racial barriers in the major leagues in 1947. Dugouts and bullpen emptied out as a result of this feud.
Anderson responded that Donaldson tried to “taunt” him with his comments. White Sox manager Tony La Russa called Donaldson’s comments “racist”, adding that “they couldn’t be more offensive”. Anderson agreed with La Russa’s comments and reiterated that he is “on the same page as him”.
