UPDATE (10:28 P.M.): Here’s a picture of Bruce Maxwell kneeling before Saturday’s game:
From the @sfchronicle’s Santiago Mejia, here is A’s rookie Bruce Maxwell becoming the first MLB player to take a knee for the anthem: pic.twitter.com/q8QVY9hW15
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) September 24, 2017
Maxwell’s agent, Matt Sosnick, defended his client’s “patriotism,” as well as explained his reasons for protesting in a text to Susan Slusser.
“Bruce’s father is a proud military lifer,” Sosnick wrote. “Anyone who knows Bruce or his parents is well aware that the Maxwells’ love and appreciation for our country is indisputable.
“Bruce has made it clear that he is taking a stand about what he perceives as racial injustices in this country, and his personal disappointment with President (Donald) Trump’s response to a number of professional athletes’ totally peaceful, non-violent protests.”
ORIGINAL STORY: Major League Baseball reportedly has its first national anthem protester.
Ahead of Saturday’s game between the Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers, A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell kneeled during “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser reports. Here’s her account of what took place, and whether Maxwell was alone in protesting:
A's catcher Bruce Maxwell is kneeling for the National Anthem. He's the first MLB player to do so. Maxwell has hand on heart, facing flag
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) September 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/911757183062130688
One minute after Slusser broke the news, the Athletics tweeted the following statement:
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) September 24, 2017
So, despite the current lack of photographic evidence, it seems Maxwell has inserted baseball into the already contentious relationship between President Donald Trump and United States professional sports.
Maxwell’s protest comes on the same day that Trump rescinded Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry’s invitation to the White House, and a day after the president ripped NFL players who protest the anthem.
The 26-year-0ld catcher, however, isn’t the only MLB player to make a political statement Saturday, as New York Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia offered a strong stance against Trump.
Thumbnail photo via Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports Images
