Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred informed Senator Josh Hawley that players from the San Francisco Giants who had added Bible verse references to their Pride Night hats will not face fines or disciplinary action. This decision pertains to the controversy surrounding the team’s uniform policy.
In a letter dated June 19 and shared by Senator Hawley, Manfred described the MLB office’s reaction as issuing a “routine oral warning.” The warning addressed players who wrote biblical references on caps featuring the team’s Pride logo. However, the league later realized the Giants had not adequately informed players about their option to wear regular caps.
Manfred clarified that Giants players would not be fined or disciplined. He indicated that the incident stemmed from a misunderstanding due to the team’s communication issues. San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp was among those who included “Genesis 9:12-16” on his Pride-themed cap.
Senator Hawley expressed that MLB’s response amounts to an acknowledgment of improper warnings given to Giants players for expressing their Christian faith. He had addressed the matter in a letter to Manfred dated June 16, questioning why MLB had cautioned players for such expressions.
The incident also drew attention from Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, who stated that the Justice Department had referred the issue to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, raising concerns of religious discrimination within MLB.
The dispute arose after several Giants players wrote Bible chapters on their rainbow-logo caps during the June 12 Pride Night game. Roupp referenced “Gen 9:12-16,” which relates to the Genesis passage describing the rainbow as a divine covenant post-flood.
Initially, MLB responded by stating that the writings violated league rules concerning alterations of uniforms or equipment. Manfred explained that the rules, agreed upon with the MLB Players Association, prevent players from displaying any messages on apparel.
The commissioner emphasized that the rule aims to avoid players being representatives of political or social issues while in uniform, as certain messages might offend fans regardless of intent. Manfred acknowledged MLB’s efforts to ensure players are not forced to participate in commemorative events conflicting with their beliefs.
An earlier incident in 2022 involved Rays players refusing to wear Pride logos, while former Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw displayed the same Genesis reference on a Pride-themed cap last season.
MLB introduced a policy in 2023 limiting clubs to using special uniforms, hats, or equipment only under specific circumstances, such as honoring deceased individuals or marking baseball milestones. Nonetheless, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants retained their Pride emblems through a grandfathered exception due to large LGBTQ communities in those cities.
MLB agreed to allow the exception with the stipulation that no player or uniformed staff must wear the Pride apparel. Manfred noted the Giants’ communication shortcomings, which left some players unaware they had alternative uniforms, subsequently leading to messages on Pride hats.
Manfred reiterated MLB’s intent to support both players’ religious rights and fan communities across the nation, including LGBTQ supporters. He concluded that MLB remains committed to maintaining the uniform alteration ban to avoid “censoring some messages but not others,” while working on player and club policies that respect values and beliefs.