Josh Donaldson: Criticism from Yankees teammates 'tough to hear'
The Yankees' Josh Donaldson reacts as he walks to first base after being hit with a pitch during the sixth inning of a game against the Blue Jays on May 10 at Yankee Stadium, Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II
Josh Donaldson acknowledged it “was tough to hear” some of the criticism he took from his own clubhouse in the aftermath of the May 21 incident involving Tim Anderson, one that saw him twice refer to the White Sox shortstop as “Jackie” during that game, causing both benches to clear.
“I pride myself on being a good teammate, and everywhere I’ve went and every organization I’ve been a part of — minus Oakland — has offered me extensions and wanted me back,” Donaldson told a group of reporters outside the Yankees’ dugout Wednesday afternoon.
Donaldson, who plans to appeal the one-game suspension he received from MLB as a result of the incident when he returns from the IL (right shoulder inflammation), added that “I really shouldn’t have put myself and my team in that situation.”
Aaron Judge and Aaron Boone were among those stating publicly that Donaldson, even with Anderson previously referring to himself as “today’s Jackie Robinson” in a Sports Illustrated story from 2019, should have chosen his words better.
“Joke or not, I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do there,” Judge said May 23. “JD, he made a mistake, owned up to it. Now we have to move on.”
Speaking May 22, Boone said: “I don’t believe there was any malicious intent . . . [But] this is just somewhere, in my opinion, he should not be going.”
Donaldson, who last week issued a public apology to Anderson as well as the Robinson family, reiterated Wednesday that he thought Anderson took the “Jackie” remark as “banter” between the two.
“I had conversations with him in the past where it was jokingly kind of giving friendly banter back and forth,” Donaldson said. “Honestly, if he feels a certain way . . . now I know.”
Anderson called Donaldson’s “Jackie” remark “disrespectful,’’ and White Sox manager Tony La Russa characterized it as “a racist comment.’’
Donaldson said it was “extremely hurtful to have that accusation, not only for myself but for my family. Because that’s definitely not who I am by any stretch.’’
Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.
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