Comment by New York Yankees' Josh Donaldson to Chicago White Sox star Tim Anderson called 'racist'

A heated afternoon on the field continued off it afterward, with Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson taking offense to being called «Jackie» by the New York Yankees' Josh Donaldson, a comment deemed «racist» by manager Tony LaRussa.

Donaldson admitted after the game to calling Anderson «Jackie» — a nod to Jackie Robinson — and apologized. Anderson said after the game that he took offense to it.

Donaldson said the comment was in reference to a 2019 interview in which Anderson described himself as feeling like «today's Jackie Robinson» in how he's «getting to a point where I need to change the game.» Donaldson on Saturday also said it was a reference in which he's joked with Anderson about it in the past.

In the third inning, Donaldson had rounded second base after the final out and began jawing with Anderson as the teams came off the field. Donaldson, a former AL MVP in his first season with the Yankees, was escorted off the field by manager Aaron Boone and Anderson, an All-Star shortstop, was led off by third base coach Joe McEwing.

«He just made a disrespectful comment,» Anderson said. «Basically he was trying to call me Jackie Robinson. 'What's up, Jackie?' I don't play like that. I don't really play at all. I wasn't really going to bother nobody today, but he made the comment and you know it was disrespectful and I don't think it was called for. It was unneccesary.»

Said LaRussa: «He made a racist comment, Donaldson, and that's all I'm going to say. That's as strong as it gets.»

Asked if he agreed with LaRussa, Anderson said, «Same. Same. Along that same line.»

Donaldson, who said he told his side of the story with his Yankees teammates, told reporters that he would be open to meeting with Anderson to discuss the