Josh Donaldson was upset that his New York Yankees teammates did not support him after he called Tim Anderson “Jackie.”
This month, New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson was suspended one game after he called Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson “Jackie [Robinson]” during the May 21 game. Donaldson was called out for it by various White Sox players. Not only that, but Yankees star outfielder Aaron Judge and manager Aaron Boone have said that he shouldn’t have made the comments at all.
When speaking during batting practice on Wednesday, June 1, Donaldson admitted that he was hurt that his teammates didn’t back him during the fallout of his comments.
Josh Donaldson hurt that Yankees teammates didn’t back him after Tim Anderson comments
“I think that was tough to hear, for sure, just for the simple fact that I pride myself on being a good teammate, and everywhere I’ve went, every organization that I’ve been a part of, minus Oakland, has offered me extensions, has wanted me to stay back,” Donaldson said, h/t ESPN.
“They’ve showed that they wanted me a part of their team. Obviously it didn’t work out that way,” he said. “And that’s just the business end of it. And also everywhere I went, I’ve won. I think part of winning is having good team chemistry, and I’ve taken pride everywhere I’ve went I’ve always tried to help people try to get better.”
When speaking with the media, Judge spoke on what Donaldson said to Anderson, where he said “joke or not, I just don’t think that’s the right thing to do there.
Boone, meanwhile, said the comments by Donaldson were “somewhere he should not be going.”
Immediately after the aforementioned game, White Sox manager Tony La Russa called the comments made by Donaldson “racist,” and Anderson confirmed that he said “what’s up, Jackie” during the game in question.
Donaldson confirmed that he did make the Robinson comments, but said it was in reference to Anderson saying he feels like “today’s Jackie Robinson” in a 2019 interview with Sports Illustrated. He then went onto claim that he joked with Anderson about it.
But, Anderson told his side of the story, saying “I won’t speak to you, you won’t speak to me, if that’s how you’re going to refer to me.”
MLB announced that they were suspending Donaldson for his comments, which led the benches to clear between New York and Chicago. Donaldson is appealing the suspension.
Donaldson released a statement after the announcement of his suspension, where he apologized for offending Anderson and offered his apologies to Jackie Robinson’s family.