All-star outfielder Adam Jones says he was verbally assaulted by racist taunts and slurs at Fenway Park when the Baltimore Orioles took on the Boston Red Sox Monday night.
“A disrespectful fan threw a bag of peanuts at me,” Jones told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale Monday. “I was called the N-word a handful of times tonight. Thanks. Pretty awesome.’’
Jones, an African-American, told Nightengale that while he’s experienced racist heckling before over his 12-year career, this is the worst he’s ever experienced.
Boston mayor Marty Walsh was disgusted by the actions of some of his citizens.
On Tuesday morning, the Red Sox and MLB issued statements addressing the incident:
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“The Red Sox want to publicly apologize to Adam Jones and the entire Orioles organization for what occurred at Fenway Park Monday night. No player should have an object thrown at him on the playing field, nor be subjected to any kind of racism at Fenway Park. The Red Sox have zero tolerance for such inexcusable behavior, and our entire organization and our fans are sickened by the conduct of an ignorant few. Such conduct should be reported immediately to Red Sox security, and any spectator behaving in this manner forfeits his/her right to remain in the ballpark, and may be subject to further action. Our review of last night’s events is ongoing.”
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Jones is seeking harsher punishment to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again to him or anybody else.
“It’s pathetic,” he said. “It’s called a coward. What they need to do is that instead of kicking them out of the stadium, they need to fine them 10 grand, 20 grand, 30 grand. Something that really hurts somebody. Make them pay in full. And if they don’t, take it out of their check.
“That’s how you hurt somebody. You suspend them from the stadium, what does that mean? It’s a slap on the wrist. That guy needs to be confronted, and he needs to pay for what he’s done.”
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