As athletes, and other public figures, join Colin Kaepernick’s silent protest during the playing of the national anthem, Major League Ball remains silent and according to Gary Sheffield, that will continue to happen.
Addressing the media at a recent TBS on MLB luncheon, the retired, all-star says during his career, several clubs would issue fines for missing the anthem. In fact, during his run with the Yankees, players were also required to stand at the top of the dugout during the seventh inning stretch when “God Bless America” was played.
“When I was playing we had some organizations require that you stand on top of the dugout during the national anthem,” says Sheffield. “If you were late, you got fined. We knew we had to be on the top step.”
But make no mistake, some players have been conducting their own protests in different ways over the years.
“Baseball is different than football. They have a sideline, they don’t have a dugout. They don’t have cover,” says Sheffield. “Us as baseball players, it’s the national anthem going on and some guys are up in the clubhouse eatin’. They’ve been doing that for a long time. It just don’t get the attention because you don’t know what they’re doing and you definitely don’t know why they’re doing it.”
Sheffield goes on to say that he admires Kaepernick’s decision and wished more baseball players would join the cause and speak their mind.
“What Colin is doing should be commended,” says Sheffield. “Very rare do you see any athletes speak up, especially baseball because of the money.
“Money changes people and what happens is you fall for anything when you care about money more than anything. I’ve been saying this for a long time. I respect people who stand for something. You don’t discredit the person speaking out. Respect the opinion. Basically acknowledge the fact that these things are happening.”
There has yet to be an active baseball player to share his opinion or silently protest along with Colin Kaepernick. Playing so many games during the season it would require a player with a strong, thick skin to keep it up for an entire season.
