African-American players in MLB have come a long way since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier back in 1947….or so we thought.
Orioles’ center fielder Adam Jones, one of 62 African-Americans on opening day rosters, was subjected to racist fan abuse when his team visited the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park Monday night.
“A disrespectful fan threw a bag of peanuts at me,’’ Jones said, “I was called the N-word a handful of times tonight. Thanks. Pretty awesome.’’
“It’s different,’’ he said. “Very unfortunate. I heard there was 59 or 60 ejections tonight in the ballpark. It is what it is, right. I just go out and play baseball. It’s unfortunate that people need to resort to those type of epithets to degrade another human being. I’m trying to make a living for myself and for my family.
“It’s unfortunate. The best thing about myself is that I continue to move on, and still play the game hard. Let people be who they are. Let them show their true colors.’’
Officials from the Red Sox administration confirmed that a fan did indeed throw a bag of peanuts at Jones and that the fan was ejected. According to Jones, there were 59 or 60 ejections from the park; officials are still investigating the total number but believe it to be only half of Jones’ estimate.
Although the fan was removed from the stadium, Jones felt that punishment was a bit too lenient.
“It’s pathetic,’’ he said. “It’s called a coward. What they need to do is that instead of kicking them out of the stadium, they need to fine them 10 grand, 20 grand, 30 grand. Something that really hurts somebody. Make them pay in full. And if they don’t, take it out of their check.
“That’s how you hurt somebody. You suspend them from the stadium, what does that mean? It’s a slap on the wrist. That guy needs to be confronted, and he needs to pay for what he’s done.
“At the end of the day, when you throw an object onto the field of play, the player has no idea what it is. What if something hit me right in the eye and I can’t play baseball anymore. Then what? I just wear it? No.
“Things like that need to be handled a little more properly, in my opinion.’’
We agree with Jones. The players deserve a fair and safe work environment and the other fans deserve the fulfilling experience that they have paid for.
