Greetings from the sports desk located somewhere below the main deck of the Good Pirate Ship RedState. Sammy the Shark and Karl the Kraken want me to mention their vital contribution via in-depth research for today’s post …
At least they’re not on the couch shoving fish crackers in their respective mouths for once.
Anyway, the baseball story that refuses to go away — namely, the brouhaha that boiled and bubbled over on Friday, June 12, 2026, when three members of the San Francisco Giants pitching staff wrote Bible verses on their team-issued Pride Night caps for that evening’s game against the Chicago Cubs — has once again resurfaced. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), who has a well-earned reputation for not suffering fools lightly, fired off a “do you really want to go there” missive to Major League Baseball following its thinly veiled threat to fine or suspend the “offending” players, as my colleague Sister Toldjah noted on June 16, 2026.
MORE: Josh Hawley on Warpath After Baseball Players Targeted, and MLB Won't Like What May Be Coming Next
Well, MLB has responded with a wordy “we’re not sorry … but we’re sorry” reply from MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred. The letter, dated June 19, 2026, states that MLB will take no disciplinary action against the pitchers. This will doubtless be much to the disappointment of the San Francisco Bay Area sports media, which, ever since the incident, has been clamoring for the involved players to be crucified atop the bullpen mound at Oracle Park. Or words to that effect.
.@MLB Commissioner writes to me and admits they were wrong to threaten the Giants players over Bible verses and promises never to fine or discipline these players - or any players for their religious beliefs pic.twitter.com/rnPy2F7fyR
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) June 22, 2026
Some, um, “highlights” from the letter:
First, your letter asserts that by warning three San Francisco Giants players that they are not permitted to alter their cap, MLB has discriminated against players. MLB takes discrimination against its players or in any form related to the league very seriously. As you reference in your letter, MLB has a policy negotiated with the Major League Baseball Players Association that states a “[p]layer may not write, attach, affix, embroider, or otherwise display nicknames or messages on apparel or playing equipment.” This policy is enforced without regard to the substance of the messaging. The rationale for the policy is that the league does not desire for its players to become messengers for political or social issues while in uniform playing baseball games because many messages have the potential to offend some segment of our fanbase - even if that was not the intent of the player.
Apparently, this policy was rendered null in 2020, when the then-Oakland (don’t get me started) A’s issued “Black Lives Matter” t-shirts to the team to be worn during warmups before the season opener.
At the league level, MLB has twelve league-wide events each year in which the uniform or hat is altered to commemorate the day, and in which all Clubs must participate. The twelve events are: Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Armed Forces Weekend, Play Ball Weekend, Memorial Day, Lou Gehrig Day, Independence Day, Hall of Fame Weekend, Childhood Cancer Awareness Day, September 11th, Jackie Robinson Day and Roberto Clemente Day. For these days, players wear special uniforms and hats, and for some of the days, the Uniform Regulations contained in the collective bargaining agreement are relaxed per agreement with the Union. We are unaware of any significant complaints from fans or players regarding these celebratory days.
So, while being too gutless to come out and say it, Manfred is equating Pride Night with national holidays celebrating America? You really went there, Rob?
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. As a league, we agree with the principle that players or other Club employees - at their place of work - should not be compelled to participate in a celebratory event (particularly by wearing something on their person) if such participation would violate their sincere religious beliefs or values. As a result, to avoid putting players or others in an uncomfortable position, beginning in 2023, we adopted a policy of not permitting Clubs to utilize special uniforms, hats or equipment in their celebration days except under very narrow circumstances (patches honoring deceased members of the baseball community, commemorating baseball milestones, and things of that nature).
The next part is a doozie.
In 2023, the Dodgers and the Giants requested their use of the pride emblem on uniforms/hats on Pride Night be grandfathered. Los Angeles and San Francisco are homes to the some of the largest LGBTQ communities in the United States, and those Clubs desired to show their appreciation and support for those communities that have supported their Clubs throughout the years.
By this logic, the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox should be allowed to commemorate Murder Incorporated Night.
MLB agreed to allow them to utilize the hats/uniforms with the emblems provided that no player or uniformed staff would be required to wear them, and that the team would speak to the players to make sure they were comfortable with the apparel.
Since 2023, the Dodgers and Giants have operated under this grandfathered exception. Unfortunately, this year the Giants communication with players was inadequate and not clear. Some players apparently did not understand that they had the option to wear their normal uniform and elected to add messages to their hats bearing the pride logo as a result. The Giants players were allowed to wear the hats with the biblical references for the entire game. After the game had concluded, my office issued a routine oral warning about the uniform policy violation - unfortunately it was issued before we became aware of the Giants’ lapse in communication. The players were neither fined nor disciplined, nor will they ever be.
This is a curious blame shift. While it is not entirely implausible that the Giants did not properly communicate to their players that they could opt out of wearing the Pride Night hat, the players involved have not indicated that the team informed them wearing the hat was in any way mandatory.
After Pride night, (Giants reliever Sam) Hentges said wearing a Pride hat was “something that I feel like I was forced to support when I don’t morally support it.” Asked Friday if he felt pressure from the league or team about his decision to opt out, he said, “It was my decision and kind of collectively our decision as the group that did it. I don’t think I was being forced to wear it. I think it was a choice and I chose not to wear it. At the end of the day, it’s a decision that was made and I stand by it. There’s been a lot of hate involved, directed toward me and I understand it, because everyone is entitled to believe what they want to.”
It is impossible to think that if one or more of the players involved were Muslim and therefore refused to wear the Pride Night hat, that anyone in the media or elsewhere would emit a peep. But, they have the unmitigated gall to believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus and the directives of Scripture, including how the rainbow is a sign of God’s promise that He will never again destroy all life on the earth. Jesus will return to the earth, however. And not a moment too soon.
Say, do you enjoy your sports commentary without the diseased rantings of a woke mindset or pseudo-macho wannabe jock posturing seeping around and through the stats and stories? How about an in-depth analysis of world events, plus the philosophies and the people behind them? Sammy the Shark and Karl the Kraken humbly suggest becoming a VIP member! Help RedState fight the liberal media by helping yourself to daily riches of learned commentary. Knowledge is power, so feed the mind and join in the fray. Join RedState VIP today!
Join the conversation as a VIP Member