Mookie Betts Discusses Being the Only African American Player in World Series
Eric Homosexual/Connected Press
Mookie Betts shined within the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ 8-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Tuesday’s Game 1 of the World Series, and he discussed being the handiest African American within the Tumble Traditional all by design of a postgame interview with MLB Network.
“Obviously, there’s got to be more of us here,” he stated whereas revealing he did no longer know he modified into as soon as the handiest African American within the series until he modified into as soon as asked about it.
“It starts within the internal cities,” he persisted. “We comprise got to give support and whatnot. I’m doing my fraction, inserting some packages collectively to receive us into baseball. But I’m hoping all americans is out here looking out at in consequence of I’m 5’9″ and 170 kilos real fancy the majority of us. So, one thing is doubtless.”
In July, Betts informed newshounds “I judge baseball did no longer enact a appropriate job with that,” when discussing the league’s response to the police killing of George Floyd and the worldwide protests towards police brutality and systemic racism it sparked.
Liz Roscher of Yahoo Sports renowned the league’s observation on the time got here after a series of diversified sports leagues and individual groups issued responses to the second.
Aloof York Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman modified into as soon as among other folks that seen how lengthy it took:
Betts, whom the Boston Purple Sox traded to Los Angeles this past offseason, knelt all by design of the taking part in of the national anthem before the season opener towards the San Francisco Giants as a mode of sigh towards systemic racism and police brutality:
On the sphere in Tuesday’s sport, he went 2-for-4 with a condo run, two steals, two runs and a inch because the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter within the easy victory. He showed off his versatility by making things happen on the basepaths and adding some energy with the house run and likely took an early lead within the World Series MVP urge because the handiest participant on the sphere.
Betts received a World Series with the Purple Sox in 2018 and seems to be primed to guide the Dodgers to their first title for the reason that 1988 marketing and marketing campaign.