Yankees' Josh Donaldson apologizes to Jackie Robinson family: ‘I hold his name in the highest regard’
Donaldson admitted to calling White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson ‘Jackie’ over the weekend
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Josh Donaldson, New York Yankees third baseman, said he and Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson have a "mutual understanding" while also apologizing to the Jackie Robinson family on Thursday.
Donaldson, suspended by Major League Baseball for one game earlier in the week for calling Anderson "Jackie" during the Yankees vs White Sox game over the weekend, reiterated that he felt the exchange was a "misunderstanding."
New York's Josh Donaldson grounds into a fielder's choice against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2022, in the Bronx. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
"First and foremost, I have the utmost respect for what Tim Anderson brings to the game of baseball," Donaldson said Thursday in a statement. "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."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}During Saturday’s game between the White Sox and the Yankees, Donaldson called Anderson "Jackie" – a reference to baseball great Jackie Robinson – which eventually resulted in both benches coming onto the field.
TIM ANDERSON: JOSH DONALSON TRIED TO PROVOKE ME WITH ‘JACKIE’ COMMENT
After the game, White Sox manager Tony LaRussa said that Donaldson made a "racist" remark.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"He made a racist comment," La Russa said. "That’s all I’m going to say."
WHITE SOX ACCUSE YANKEES JOSH DONALDSON OF MAKING RACIST ‘JACKIE’ REMARK; MLB INVESTIGATING
Anderson, who told Sports Illustrated in 2019 that "I kind of feel like today’s Jackie Robinson," did not appreciate the reference.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox is held back after a benches-clearing dispute at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2022, in the Bronx. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
"Basically, he was trying to call me Jackie Robinson," Anderson said Saturday. "He was like "‘Hey, what’s up Jackie?’ I don’t play like that. I don’t really play at all. I wasn’t really going to bother nobody today, but he made the comment, and you know, it was disrespectful and I don’t think it was called for. It was unnecessary."
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On Thursday, Donaldson apologized to Robinson’s wife in his statement and called Robinson a "true American hero."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"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."
New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson and White Sox baserunner Tim Anderson exchange words on May 13, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Donaldson’s teammate, outfielder Aaron Judge, was critical of his teammate's comment on Monday.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It’s a tough one. Joke or not, I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do there," Judge said to reporters. "Especially given the history, especially with the series in Chicago. A little bit of beef between Anderson and JD [Donaldson]."
Donaldson is appealing MLB’s one-game suspension.
Fox News' David Aaro contributed to this report.