Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) wrote an inflammatory letter to Major League Baseball's commissioner after three players were warned for writing Bible verses on their Pride Night hats.
“I am writing with deep concern about your reported decision to issue a formal warning to three Major League Baseball (MLB) players for publicly expressing their Christian faith,” Hawley, 46, wrote to the commission. Rob Manfred on Tuesday, June 16. “This follows a top-secret investigation that revealed at least one MLB team discriminated against a player based on his Catholic faith. He must answer for what appears to be a pattern of discrimination between MLB and baseball players who claim to be of the Christian faith.”
Last week, three San Francisco Giants pitchers – Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker again Ryan Walker – he wrote a variation of the verse Genesis 9: 12-16 on their hats of the Night of Pride, setting up the rainbow as a permanent symbol of his covenant with Noah and all living creatures on earth.
The Giants' fourth pitcher, Sam Hentgeshe absolutely refused to wear a hat.
“Your organization has reportedly issued warnings to these players,” Hawley said. “MLB said this is a neutral policy and MLB respects it[s] the players' right to free speech.' But this is interesting, as MLB clearly promotes a political ideology and possibly enforces adherence to that ideology. “
He continued, “The league's claim that it prohibits 'writing of any kind' on its uniforms fails to review the league's recent history. In 2020, MLB itself turned its uniforms and stadiums into political and social message boards. It created jersey patches that read 'Black Lives Matter' and 'United for Change.' It has been authorized by the 'BLM' to be stuffed into the fill mounds. It has also set up its own mechanical rules for players to display progressive political slogans in their cases. “
.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO).
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty ImagesHawley asserted that it was his duty to “expose” the allegations of the “unchristian” faction.
“The freedom to live by one's faith does not end at the football gate,” he wrote. “Americans of all faiths have a right to be confident that our nation's institutions will not expose religious speech to punishment while celebrating the organization's pro-choice messages. I hope the league shares that commitment, and I look forward to your prompt and complete response.”
A spokesman for Major League Baseball released a statement on Tuesday, clarifying that their message to the Giants players had “nothing to do” with what they wrote on their hats.
“We respect the players' right to speak freely,” the league said. “We've given the same warning many times in the past to players with messages like 'Dad,' 'Happy Mother's Day, I Love Mom' and names of family members.”
Not a single Giants player was fined or disciplined.
