Manfred Says 3 Giants Won’t Be Punished for Bible Verses on Pride Night Caps
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 24
Manfred Says 3 Giants Won’t Be Punished for Bible Verses on Pride Night Caps
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 24
Summary
Rob Manfred told Sen. Josh Hawley that San Francisco Giants players who wrote Bible verses on Pride Night caps will face no discipline and that no MLB player will be fined for religious beliefs.
Three Giants pitchers — Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker — wrote verses on June 12, after reliever Sam Hentges had already opted to wear the club’s standard cap instead.
MLB had initially said the writing broke a collectively bargained uniform rule barring players from adding messages to apparel or equipment, a policy Manfred said is enforced regardless of content.
Hawley said Manfred effectively admitted the league was wrong to warn players and welcomed a broader assurance that clubs cannot require political-message uniforms.
The dispute widened a Pride Night flashpoint into a leaguewide religious-liberty debate, with Hawley saying he had threatened Senate scrutiny before MLB reversed course.