This is as ugly as it gets.
Orioles star center fielder Adam Jones told USA Today on Monday night that he heard racist comments at Fenway Park in the Red Sox’ 5-2 loss to the Orioles, and that it wasn’t the first time.
The comments from Jones, who is African-American, echo what David Price said over the winter about hearing racial epithets at Fenway.
“A disrespectful fan threw a bag of peanuts at me,’’ Jones told reporter Bob Nightengale. “I was called the N-word a handful of times tonight. Thanks. Pretty awesome.’’
One of the game’s most charismatic figures, Jones has been in the majors for twelve years, ten with the Orioles and two with the Seattle Mariners, and was the lead figure for the Team USA team that won the World Baseball Classic in the spring.
“It’s different,’’ he told USA Today. “Very unfortunate. I heard there was 59 or 60 ejections tonight in the ballpark. It is what it is, right. I just go out and play baseball. It’s unfortunate that people need report to those type of epithets to degrade another human being. I’m trying to make a living for myself and for my family.”
A Red Sox source confirmed that an incident with Jones took place, but said the number of ejections tonight was fewer than what Jones cited.
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No official statement from the team was immediately made.
“It’s unfortunate,” Jones told USA Today. “The best thing about myself is that I continue to move on, and still play the game hard. Let people be who they are. Let them show their true colors.’’
Jones said the fan that threw the peanuts was escorted from the stadium, but he wished the punishment were more severe.
“It’s pathetic,’’ Jones 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.”
Price told the Globe over the winter he had heard racist comments at Fenway.
"I don't care about that," he told the Globe. "My mom is white and my dad is black. I've heard that since I've been in school. There's nothing you can say to me that I haven't heard before. Your ignorance is not going to affect what I'm trying to do. But I feel sad it's still out there."