Top prosecutors around the United States are scrutinizing Major League Baseball after the league reportedly warned San Francisco Giants players over Bible verses displayed on their caps during a Pride Night game.
The response has widened since the Department of Justice said it had opened a review of the league’s handling of the incident, with several state attorneys general indicating they may examine MLB’s actions as well.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Saturday morning that he had issued an investigative subpoena to MLB “to determine how their selective enforcement of uniform rules may discriminate against Christians.”
His move follows a similar warning from Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, who has also suggested her office could launch an investigation.
“By forcing players to promote political and religious beliefs that they disagree with on pain of discipline, MLB is betraying a core tenet of American law and civic culture,” Hanaway said.
On Thursday, DOJ Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said her office had referred the matter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for further investigation.
“They don’t mind when players are taking a knee and exhibiting all kinds of stuff on the job, but when people are pushing back on being forced to promote a sexual practice that is against their religion, they’re threatening them,” Dhillon told The California Post.
The dispute began after Giants pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker wrote “Gen 9:12-16” on their rainbow-themed Pride Night caps during last week’s game against the Chicago Cubs. The cited Bible passage refers to God’s covenant with Noah and describes the rainbow as a symbol of that promise.
EXCLUSIVE: Bruce Lion, Heir to Raisin Fortune, Arrested on Terror Threat Charges
After an MLB spokesman confirmed the players had received a uniform warning, the league later clarified that the warning was “not disciplinary” and “had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message.”
The league noted that MLB’s uniform regulations prohibit players from writing any messages on apparel or equipment and that similar warnings have been issued for personal messages such as “Dad” or “Happy Mother’s Day.”
Dhillon rejected the MLB’s rationale, pointing to the fact that the league allowed players to wear “Black Lives Matter” patches on uniforms, calling it a “double standard.”
Uthmeier praised the federal inquiry and said Florida would determine if MLB’s uniform rules discriminated against Christians. The league has two teams in Florida, while many more hold spring training in the Sunshine State.
“Major League Baseball claims it does not tolerate discrimination based on religion, yet its actions tell a different story,” Uthmeier said in a statement.
His office asked MLB to produce documents by July 23 on uniform rules, enforcement history and other internal documentation. The subpoena was issued under the Florida Civil Rights Act and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
In her letter to the MLB, Hanaway said she would open a probe unless the league promised not discipline players for refusing to wear Pride Night uniforms and for writing Bible verses on hats. Missouri also has two MLB teams.
“As America’s pastime, baseball should not discriminate against the moral, political or religious beliefs of any player,” she said.
The Post contacted the MLB for comment.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
