New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. offered up a bold opinion on MLB traditions that is sure to rub some in and around the league the wrong way.
Even before he arrived in the Bronx last summer, Jazz Chisholm had developed a negative reputation inside the Miami Marlins organization. There was no doubt the one-time All-Star was a talented player. And his passion for the sport was undeniable. However, how he conducted himself always clashed with more traditional players and coaches.
It was the topic of conversation in an interview the 27-year-old had this week with The Athletic ahead of the Yankees season opener on Thursday. When asked about the criticism he would receive from Marlins teammates and their preference he tone down his brash and cocky style, the native of the Bahamas had a shockingly strong answer.
“I don’t want to say this — baseball is a White sport,” he said. “I feel like White people criticize everything that a Black man does. Black men are outspoken. They say what’s on their minds.”
- Jazz Chisholm stats (2024): .256 AVG, .324 OBP, .436 SLG, .760 OPS, 24 HR, 73 RBI, 74 R
New York Yankees star calls unwritten rules of baseball ‘White’
Maybe more than any other professional sport in North America, MLB is very much about traditions. Especially when it comes to conduct of young players. However, Chisholm never subscribed to such notions during his four and half season in Miami. In his mind, the unwritten rules of the sport are outdated guidelines he enjoyed breaking.
“The unwritten rules of baseball are White,” Chisholm said. “And I always broke the unwritten rules of baseball.”
After being acquired before last year’s trade deadline, the talented infielder was a big addition for the Yankees. He seemed to play better under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium on their run to the World Series. If he can continue to perform like he did in August and September of 2024, New York fans will likely embrace his flashy and cocky style if it helps the team win games.
For much of MLB’s history the majority of players have been white. However, the last 30 years has seen a huge influx of players from Latin America and many other foreign nations.
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