(670 The Score) White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson was called "Jackie" Robinson by Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson during the first inning of Saturday's game at Yankee Stadium. It spurred multiple incidents between the two teams, including one in which Anderson had to be restrained by teammates.
After the third inning, Anderson and Donaldson exchanged words and had to be separated. It led to an altercation in the fifth inning, with White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal confronting Donaldson and both benches clearing. Anderson had to be held back by teammates Jose Abreu and Gavin Sheets.
"He made a disrespectful comment, basically called me Jackie Robinson, like, 'What's up, Jackie,'" Anderson said to reporters in New York. "I don't play like that. I don't really play at all. I wasn't really bothering nobody today but he made a comment and it was disrespectful. I don't think it was called for. It was unnecessary.
"It was very disrespectful."
Donaldson told reporters that it was a reference to a 2019 Sports Illustrated article in which Anderson referred to himself as "like today's Jackie Robinson," which Donaldson said he joked about with Anderson that year.
"My meaning of that is not trying to be racist by any fact of that matter," Donaldson told reporters. "It was off of an interview, what he called himself."
White Sox manager Tony La Russa referred to Donaldson's comments as "racist," a sentiment Anderson agreed with later.
The Yankees earned a 7-5 win over the White Sox.
Anderson and Donaldson were involved in a separate incident during a game May 13 at Guaranteed Rate Field as Anderson shoved Donaldson on a play at third base.
The White Sox and Yankees will play two more games in a doubleheader Sunday at Yankee Stadium.
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