Mariners’ Dee Gordon on MLB’s Jackie Robinson day: ‘I think he’d be happy to know we stood up’
The Mariners, along with players and coaches across Major League Baseball, wore No. 42 on their backs Friday, honoring Jackie Robinson.
During a pregame video call with reporters from in Anaheim, where the Mariners opened a four-game series against the Angels, veteran infielder Dee Gordon spoke about the significance of the day, and how special it is to him to wear Robinson’s number on his jersey.
He also believes what the Mariners, and others across baseball, have done this week to stand up against social injustice and racial inequality, would make Robinson proud.
“I think he’d be happy to know we stood up,” Gordon said. “Know we weren’t trying to hurt nobody, we’re not trying to hurt the game, we’ve just got to do something.”
The Mariners made a unanimous team decision Wednesday to sit out their scheduled game in San Diego in protest, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday. Blake, a Black man, was shot multiple times by police while trying to enter his vehicle in Kenosha, Wis.
Gordon wrote a heartfelt post on his Twitter account following the decision, asking fans to, instead of watching the Mariners play that night, focus on the more important things happening around the country, and the “injustice, violence, death and systemic racism” impacting so many.
“The message is we’re tired,” Gordon said Friday. “I think we just told you this three months ago (following George Floyd’s death) and have been telling you every day forever — it’s time for the world to open their eyes and see that we’re tired.
“We’re tired of our people getting killed. We’re tired of being nervous that we’re next or our family members will be next. We’re just tired. I think that’s pretty simple. No one’s trying to be above anyone, not trying to retaliate for anything that’s happened over the years. We’re just tired. We’re tired of mothers grieving about their sons or their daughters getting hurt by unnecessary things. That’s pretty much it.”
Gordon said the Mariners had a candid discussion in the clubhouse Wednesday. Seattle’s club, which has seven Black players on its active roster, and 10 on its 40-man roster, was one of the first clube to decide to not play. More across the league have protested playing in the days that have followed.
While there are conversations inspiring change happening, Gordon noted the importance of continuing to fight injustice and inequality.
Gordon is on the active player advisory board of the Players Alliance, a group of more than 100 current and former Black major league players “standing together to change our game and use our platform for positive change.”
Among other efforts to uplift the Black community in baseball, members decided to donate their salaries from Thursday’s and Friday’s games.
“Still in the early formulating stages but we’ve got a lot of stuff going on,” Gordon said. “We’re trying to save being Black in baseball. … We need people that we can relate to.”
Former Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker, who was scheduled to start Wednesday’s game, and then the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader, but was traded to the Blue Jays on Thursday morning, is also a member of the Players Alliance.
He said during a video call Friday from Buffalo, N.Y. that taking action, in whatever form it may be, is important.
“Sometimes it’s just being places and showing up and talking to people, or supporting groups who really need it,” he said. “There’s so many ways that you can support, but I think this is a big step in the right direction. Hopefully a lot of other people start taking these steps with us.”
WALKER JOINS BLUE JAYS
Walker was traded to Toronto for a player to be named later Thursday, and has cleared intake protocols and joined the Blue Jays at their Triple-A ballpark in Buffalo.
He is scheduled to make his first start there Saturday against the Orioles. He last pitched on Aug. 19, and posted a 2-2 record and 4.00 ERA in five starts with Seattle this season.
Walker said he’s felt “a lot of emotions” the past few days, and shared a message on his Twitter account Friday morning as he transitioned to his new team.
“On Wednesday night, it was clear to me and the rest of the Mariners organization that we didn’t feel comfortable playing when our hearts were so heavy,” he wrote. “There is a real fight against police brutality and systemic racism going on in this country and our hope was to redirect everyone’s attention towards the much larger issues at hand. I’m so grateful that I was able to be a part of this movement in Seattle and supported by the fans, my teammates and the organization.
“From the moment I stepped foot in Seattle, I felt so much love. Thank you to the entire city of Seattle and everyone in the Mariners organization for such a great experience. To say the last few days have been extremely emotional would be a complete understatement, but I’m excited for the next part of my journey with the Toronto Blue Jays. #WeAreBlueJays and we are ready to get in the playoff hunt.”
SHORT HOPS
Rookie first baseman Evan White was held out of the lineup Friday night as he continues to deal with discomfort in his right shoulder. White had an MRI taken, but results were not available pregame. “His strength, his range of motion much better so very optimistic,” manager Scott Servais said. Servais is hopeful White will be able to rejoin the lineup over the weekend. … The Mariners placed reliever Matt Magill (right shoulder strain) on the 10-day injured list Friday. Magill has held opponents scoreless in nine of his 11 appearances this season. He joins seven other Seattle relievers already on the IL. Reliever Zac Grotz was recalled in a corresponding roster move.
This story was originally published August 28, 2020 at 7:51 PM.
