by ST. PETERSBURG, Florida – Josh Donaldson has angered everyone, from Tim Anderson to Aaron Judge and Aaron Boone, who repeatedly called White Sox “Jackie” “Jackie.”
On Thursday, the Yankees’ third key player said that he and Anderson now have a “mutual understanding” on the matter, suggesting that the days that referred to Anderson as “Jackie” are over.
Donaldson’s statement came after Anderson told Chicago on Tuesday that he had told Donaldson the two “never need to talk again” after Donaldson first mentioned Jackie Robinson in a game shortly after Anderson called him himself “new Jackie Robinson” in a Sports Illustrated. article in 2019.
Anderson clarified that there was no internal joke between the two, as Donaldson had initially said in explaining his actions, which led to multiple bench-clearing incidents over the past two weeks between the Yankees and the White Sox.
Donaldson was sent off for a game by MLB for “inappropriate comments”. He appealed the decision, but was found in COVID IL on Monday. The appeal will be heard when it leaves the IL.
According to a source, the Yankees are not considering additional penalties for Donaldson.
In a statement, Donaldson said: “First and foremost, I have full respect for what Tim Anderson brings to the game of baseball. I said over the weekend that I apologized for insulting Tim and that it was a misunderstanding based on multiple exchanges between us over the years. My view of this exchange has not changed and I did not mean any disrespect at all. In the past, it was never an issue and now that it is, we have mutual understanding.
“I would also like to apologize to Mrs Rachel Robinson and the Jackie Robinson family for any inconvenience this incident may have caused. “Jackie was a true American hero and I appreciate his name the most.”
Initially, Donaldson said he was trying to defuse tensions between the two, as they nearly clashed when the teams met in Chicago earlier this month.
After Boone criticized Donaldson for the comment, Judge made it clear that he was not happy with the third key.
“Whether we’re kidding or not, I do not think it’s right to do there,” Judge said of Donaldson’s actions to Anderson. “Given the history, especially the Chicago series and the little beef between Anderson and [Donaldson]. Anderson is one of the best shortstops in the game and he’s a big part of MLB and how we can develop the game… He made a mistake, he put up with it and we have to move on. “
