Henry Roldán
Nearly a week after the controversy between Josh Donaldson and Tim Anderson over alleged racist comments, the New York Yankees’ third baseman continued to apologize.
In a statement published this Thursday by the MVP Sports agency, which represents the player, Donaldson apologized to the family of Jackie Robinson.
“First and foremost, I have the utmost respect for what Tim Anderson brings to the game of baseball. 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. My view of that exchange hasn’t changed and I absolutely meant no disrespect. In the past, it had never been an issue and now that it is, we have a mutual understanding. I would also like to apologize to Mrs. Rachel Robinson and the Jackie Robinson family for any distress this incident may have caused. Jackie was a true American hero and I hold his name in the highest regard.”
Josh Donaldson’s apology to Jackie Robinson’s family
Let’s keep in mind that, last Saturday, the commitment between the Yankees and the White Sox ended with a couple of problems: Anderson alleged, post game, that Josh Donaldson had called him “Jackie”, something that the Chicago player considered racist.
The New York third baseman immediately stepped up to the statements by pointing out that it was not the first time he had called Anderson that way, after he said in an interview in 2019 that he felt like the new Jackie Robinson of baseball.
Donaldson added that on previous occasions they had not had a problem because of that, and even said that last year they even joked about it. And that if this time Anderson took it the wrong way, he apologized, but that his comment was never intended to be racist.
Likewise, several Yankees players and manager Aaron Boone confessed to believing Josh Donaldson’s word, although they emphasized that it was a situation that the experienced player could have avoided. Especially considering his and Anderson’s history of confrontations.
For their part, on the White Sox side, they do not believe in Donaldson’s good intentions, and even the team’s manager, Tony La Russa, also felt that the player’s expressions were racist.
Tim Anderson Had Already Spoken with Josh Donaldson
Although Josh Donaldson has repeatedly pointed out that Tim Anderson never had a bad reaction to his comments in previous years, the Chicago shortstop says that in 2019 he made it clear to him that he didn’t want to be called that again.
“We don’t have to talk again. I won’t speak to you, you don’t speak to me if that’s how you’re going to refer to me.”
Tim Anderson on what he said to Josh Donaldson
For his words, Donaldson was suspended from a commitment by the MLB, a sanction that he decided to appeal and from which a verdict is expected.
