Tony La Russa Says Yankees' Josh Donaldson Made Racist Comment to Tim Anderson

Tony La Russa said that Josh Donaldson made a racist comment towards Tim Anderson.

La Russa told reporters that Donaldson made a racist comment and that the allegation is as strong as it gets.

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Tony La Russa alleges Josh Donaldson made a racist comment towards Tim Anderson. Declined to comment further. pic.twitter.com/PAWlac6Y0D

Anderson said that Donaldson referred to a baseball legend. He agreed with La Russa that the remark was racist.

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Tim Anderson says Josh Donaldson referred to him as "Jackie [Robinson]" pic.twitter.com/sk8R7HEJ7w

Donaldson said he was referring to a remark Anderson made in 2019.

Anderson referred to his individual flair, which is largely frowned upon in MLB, in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

Donaldson told reporters that he had joked with Anderson about the comments he made about Chicago. He apologized and said he was not trying to be racist.

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Josh Donaldson admits he called Tim Anderson "Jackie" on the field today: pic.twitter.com/eko1UaR3Nt

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Josh Donaldson says he called Tim Anderson “Jackie” during today’s game, referencing a quote from Anderson in a 2019 story. Donaldson said he felt the self-reference had been a joke between the two of them in the past.

In the bottom of the fifth, as Donaldson was about to bat, Grandal began talking to Donaldson and appeared to point towards Anderson at short. Anderson was held back by his teammates as the benches cleared.

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Grandal and Donaldson exchanged words at home plate, benches cleared, TA had to be restrained 😳 pic.twitter.com/3OgsVivV7U

Anderson took exception to Donaldson's actions during a tag play at third base in the Yankees 10-4 victory over the White Sox on May 13

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Josh Donaldson and Tim Anderson exchange words after this play at third.<br><br>(via @NBCSWhiteSox) pic.twitter.com/zd5CQsFvB9

Robinson was the first Black player in MLB in 1947, opening the door for his peers and future generations of Black players.

Anderson told MLB.com's Scott Merkin that the man who paved the way for him was the Hall of Famer. This has been going on since before I was born.