Key Facts

Why Did The MLB Warn Players About Writing On Pride Hats?

The MLB issued a warning Monday after three Giants players—Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker—wrote Bible verses on their Pride Night caps during the team’s Friday game against the Chicago Cubs. “The writing on the cap violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice, we have warned the players about future violations,” Pat Courtney, the league’s chief communications officer, told multiple outlets. In a follow-up statement Tuesday, reported by the Associated Press, the league said it respects free expression but noted “writing of any kind, with any message, is prohibited per Major League Baseball’s Uniform Regulations.” The league has warned players in the past for writing other messages, such as names of family members, the statement says. Roupp, who wrote “Gen 9:12-16” on his cap, told reporters after the game he feels “no hate at all. It's just what I stand for, and what I stand on: I believe in God.” The Giants reaffirmed its commitment to Pride Night celebrations after the game, saying in a statement it is “proud to support Pride Night and the LGBTQ+ community” while apologizing for the “pain and anger” caused by the inscriptions on the Pride Night hats.

What Does Hawley’s Letter To The MLB Say?

Hawley accused the MLB of warning the players “for publicly expressing their Christian faith,” although the MLB has said the warnings were not issued because the writings were specifically Bible verses. Hawley, though, called the MLB’s clarification of the policy “dubious,” accusing it of “openly promoting a political viewpoint and possibly compelling adherence to that viewpoint” by hosting Pride nights. Hawley’s letter further accused the MLB of violating its own policies by allowing players to fasten Black Lives Matter and other social justice patches to their jerseys in 2020. Hawley also referenced an incident in May in which the Washington Nationals fired a community relations executive after a conservative group posted a hidden camera conversation in which he appeared to say the team intentionally hid Trevor Williams, a pitcher who is a devout Catholic, from social media content after Williams had criticized the Los Angeles Dodgers over its Pride Night event. The Nationals denied they had intentionally hidden Williams from content, telling The Athletic in May he had been injured. Hawley’s letter demanded the MLB respond with information about its uniform policies, including whether players are required to wear Pride Night gear, as well as its policies on religious expression.

key background

Nearly all MLB teams, with the exception of the Texas Rangers, host a Pride Night celebration, typically including specialized jerseys or hats, themed merchandise and recognition of community groups. The MLB’s Pride nights have sparked backlash in the past amid a larger cultural pushback against diversity, equity and inclusion. In 2023, as conservative-led boycotts against brands like Bud Light and Target raged, the MLB faced some criticism for using a rainbow-colored logo on social media, while the Dodgers faced a storm of controversy over its decision to invite the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an LGBTQ charity and performance group that uses drag and religious imagery, to its Pride Night event. The Dodgers removed the Sisters from its lineup after criticism from conservatives, including then-Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., though the decision to disinvite the Sisters prompted rebukes from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The Dodgers eventually re-invited the group and apologized to LGBTQ fans.

further reading

MLB warns players about altering uniforms after Giants pitchers add Bible verses on Pride Night (Associated Press)