Yankees baseman III Josh Donaldson released a statement Thursday morning regarding comments he made to Tim Anderson during Saturday’s game against the White Sox in New York.
Donaldson dubbed Anderson “Jackie,” which led to the bench eviction incident. He was suspended for one game and fined by Major League Baseball on Monday. In his statement, Donaldson said he and Anderson had a “mutual understanding”.
Donaldson statement:
“First of all, I have the utmost respect for what Tim Anderson brings to baseball. I mentioned 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 on this has not changed. Exchange and I never meant disrespect. In the past, this wasn’t a problem at all, now that it is, we have a mutual understanding.
“I would also like to apologize to Mrs. Rachel Robinson and Jackie Robinson’s family for any distress this incident may have caused. Jackie was a true American hero and I hold his name in the highest esteem.”
The statement was released via MLB.com.
Donaldson said Saturday that he has jokingly called Anderson “Jackie” in the past, and Anderson admitted on Tuesday. But Anderson insists Donaldson’s mockery was not taken as a joke.
“In 2019, I know he said that,” Anderson said. “I told him we would never have to talk again. And I wouldn’t talk to you, you wouldn’t talk to me if that was how you were going to point me. And I knew he knew exactly what he was doing.”
Donaldson said he was making an “inside joke” about Anderson referring to himself as “Jackie Robinson today” in a 2019 Sports Illustrated article, which lost context on Donaldson.
“Two years, three years, don’t say anything to me because I’ve already talked about it,” Anderson said.
