Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has stated that San Francisco Giants players who inscribed biblical references on their Pride Night caps will not face disciplinary action. The league’s uniform policy, which prohibits alterations to team apparel, was also defended by Manfred in a recent communication.
No Fines for Players Expressing Faith
In a letter addressed to Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo., dated June 19 and publicly shared on Monday, Commissioner Manfred clarified that the league office issued a “routine oral warning” to Giants players after they added biblical citations to caps bearing the team’s Pride logo. However, Manfred emphasized that this warning preceded the league’s awareness that the Giants had not explicitly informed their players of the option to wear standard caps instead.
Manfred’s letter stated, “The players were neither fined nor disciplined, nor will they ever be.” This declaration followed reports that at least one Giants player, reliever Sam Hentges, opted to wear the team’s regular cap during the game rather than the specially designed Pride Night version.
Senator Questions League’s Actions
Senator Hawley characterized Manfred’s response as an acknowledgment from Major League Baseball that it had been “wrong to threaten the Giants players over Bible verses.” Hawley had previously sent a letter on June 16 questioning why MLB had warned players for “publicly expressing their Christian faith” on their caps during the Giants’ Pride Night observance.
This exchange occurred after Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon indicated that the Department of Justice had referred the matter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, citing concerns that MLB’s handling of the warnings raised issues of religious discrimination.
The Origin of the Controversy
The situation began when Giants pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker, and Ryan Walker wrote Bible verse references on caps featuring the rainbow logo during the team’s Pride Night game on June 12. Roupp, for instance, wrote “Gen 9:12-16,” referencing a passage from Genesis that describes the rainbow as a symbol of God’s covenant following the great flood.
Initially, MLB stated that such writing violated league rules prohibiting players from altering uniforms or equipment. In his correspondence with Senator Hawley, Commissioner Manfred explained that this rule is a product of collective bargaining with the MLB Players Association. It prohibits players from writing, attaching, or displaying messages on apparel or playing equipment.
Manfred asserted that the policy is applied impartially, “without regard to the substance of the messaging.” He further explained that the rule’s intent is to prevent players from acting as conduits for political or social issues while in uniform, as a wide range of messages could potentially alienate segments of the fanbase, even if unintentionally.
League’s Stance on Religious Beliefs and Commemorative Events
The commissioner also acknowledged MLB’s efforts to avoid placing players in situations where they might be compelled to participate in commemorative events that could conflict with their religious convictions or personal values.
“We understand that some players or other on-field personnel have not been comfortable wearing the pride emblem on their uniform based on their religious beliefs,” Manfred wrote.
Past Pride Uniform Controversies
This incident is not the first involving Pride-themed uniforms in MLB. In 2022, several Rays players declined to wear Pride logos, and former Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw inscribed the same Genesis reference on a Pride-themed cap last season.
Commissioner Manfred noted that MLB implemented a policy in 2023 that restricts clubs from using special uniforms, hats, or equipment for team celebration days, with exceptions made only under specific circumstances, such as patches honoring deceased members of the baseball community or commemorating significant baseball milestones.
However, Manfred explained that the Dodgers and Giants were permitted to continue using Pride emblems under a grandfathered exception. This was due to the significant LGBTQ+ communities in Los Angeles and San Francisco and the clubs’ expressed desire to support these fan bases. MLB reportedly agreed to this exception with the stipulation that no player or uniformed staff member would be mandated to wear the gear, and that each club would ensure players were comfortable with the apparel.
Communication Breakdown Cited
Manfred stated that the Giants’ communication with their players this year was “inadequate and not clear.” He added that some players, consequently, did not realize they had the option to wear their regular uniforms and chose to add messages to the Pride caps.
Concluding his remarks, Manfred stated, “MLB believes in the right of our players and fans to express their religious beliefs, and at the same time supports the communities in this country that are fans of our Clubs, including the LGBTQ community.”
Manfred indicated that MLB will uphold its prohibition on uniform alterations to avoid selectively censoring messages. The league plans to continue collaborating with players and clubs on policies that respect the diverse values and beliefs of both its players and its fans.
