Pirates players and the organization made gestures to advocate for social justice, the most profound being outfielder Jarrod Dyson kneeling during the national anthem before the regular season opener in St. Louis Friday.
Manager Derek Shelton walked from his spot on the third base line to stand alongside Dyson, and after the anthem was over, the two shook hands and hugged.
United.#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/Lw83E0m4Az
— Pirates (@Pirates) July 25, 2020
"It meant a lot to me," Dyson said of Shelton's support after the game. "We're searching for change in this world and equal opportunities and justice. It just meant a lot. I'm behind my community 110%, and we're just searching for change in this world. It was good getting everybody behind me and encouraging me to do what I did. I feel great about it."
Dyson said he didn't know if he would kneel again in the future, but added that, "I like to keep it consistent."
Shelton has said the Pirates would support players if they wanted to protest or make a statement.
“I think the most important statements that happen are how our players act and what they say not only [Friday] but publicly and moving forward,” Shelton said during a Zoom call before the game. “That’s why I’ve been really happy with our group and how they’ve been not only on social media but how they’ve been outwardly in the community.
“That’s the most important statement. The most important statement isn’t something we do opening night or we do [Saturday]. It’s how we continue to live, how we continue to grow, how we continue to educate ourselves.”
Players and teams across Major League Baseball have spoken out against social injustice in America during opening day.
On July 14, Dyson, a Mississippi native, was asked about the debate around the state's flag and race relations in America. Here is his full statement:
"What I want to say is man, for that, we try our best and being an African American. You know, I'm from Mississippi, where I done seen a lot of racist stuff going on but at the same time, I've got to live life. I can't you know, go home every night worried about why they act like that. Why someone would want to be racist toward me at the same time I got to still tell my child how to go about his life the right way and not be racist toward nobody no matter how they are towards you.
"Honestly you know, we get tired of seeing it as a whole, African Americans, we do. And I don't think it's so much we can do. I think it's more so the people that's being racist need to do more than us. We can march. We can hold signs all day but I can't change you. You're going to have to change you. So whoever is going to be racist in the world, you know they need to go home and look themselves in the mirror and realize they ain't in this world by themselves. That's how I look at it.
"I don't want to be in a world with just black people. I want to be in a world with all races and I look at everybody the same. Because I have a lot of good white friends and Latin friends that I consider as brothers to me. And I'm not going to stop treating them the same way I treat them because you know, people want to be racist towards black people. My friends my friends. My family my family. I love all. I don't hate no one. I just wish people would change themselves instead of waiting for us to push an agenda across to make them change.
"You know if you're racist or not. I don't have to tell you that. You wake up, you know what's on your mind. You know how you view other people and you know how you view yourself and your own kind. So I love all."
At PNC Park, the Pirates unveiled banners on the left field rotunda that says "Black Lives Matter." At Busch Stadium, the players took batting practice wearing "Black Lives Matter" and another to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues, reading "They Played For Us So We Can."
Use your platform.
Make a difference.#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/QZvYS2vztC
— Pirates (@Pirates) July 24, 2020
“I think it’s amazing,” Trevor Williams said during a Zoom call before the game. “I’m proud of the guys on the team that are stepping up and taking that initiative — not only my Black teammates but all my teammates have been stepping up and really looking in the mirror and becoming more educated in all facets.”
