White Sox manager says Yankees' Josh Donaldson called Tim Anderson a racist comment

By Jacob Lev, CNN

Updated 0147 GMT (0947 HKT) May 22, 2022

Jose Abreu holds back Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox after a benches-clearing dispute between Yasmani Grandal of the Chicago White Sox (not pictured) and Josh Donaldson of the New York Yankees (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2022.

(CNN)During the New York Yankees' 7-5 win over the Chicago White Sox Saturday, Yankees' third baseman Josh Donaldson, who is White, made a racist comment to Chicago shortstop Tim Anderson, who is Black, White Sox manager Tony La Russa told reporters.

«He made a racist comment and that's all I'm going to say,» La Russa told reporters after the game, adding the accusation is «as strong as it gets.»La Russa did not elaborate on what was said, but the 28-year-old Anderson, who has played all his seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) in Chicago, said Anderson called him «Jackie» [Robinson] in a disrespectful way.«He was trying to call me Jackie Robinson, like 'What's up, Jackie?' » Anderson said after the game. «I don't play like that. I wasn't really bothering nobody today, but he made the comment and it was disrespectful. I don't think it was called for. It was unnecessary.»Jackie Robinson was the first Black player in the major leagues.Read MoreIn the fifth inning, both teams' benches cleared after a verbal confrontation between Donaldson and White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal at home plate.Donaldson appeared to point to Anderson, who was playing in the field, and both benches cleared. Anderson had to be restrained by teammates. Both teams were issued warnings but no one was ejected from the game.Anderson said it wasn't the first time Donaldson made the comment to him during the game. «It