Yankees' Josh Donaldson apologizes to Jackie Robinson family: ‘I hold his name in the highest regard’

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New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson said he and Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson have a "mutual understanding" while also apologizing to the Jackie Robinson family on Thursday. 

Donaldson, suspended by Major League Baseball for one game earlier in the week for calling Anderson "Jackie" during the Yankees vs White Sox game over the weekend, reiterated that he felt the exchange was a "misunderstanding."

New York's Josh Donaldson grounds into a fielder's choice against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2022, in the Bronx.  (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

"First and foremost, I have the utmost respect for what Tim Anderson brings to the game of baseball," Donaldson said Thursday in a statement. "I stated over the weekend that I apologized for offending Tim and that it was a misunderstanding based on multiple exchanges between us over the years. My view of that exchange hasn’t changed and I absolutely meant no disrespect. In the past, it had never been an issue and now that it is, we have a mutual understanding." 

During Saturday’s game between the White Sox and the Yankees, Donaldson called Anderson "Jackie" – a reference to baseball great Jackie Robinson – which eventually resulted in both benches coming onto the field. 

TIM ANDERSON: JOSH DONALSON TRIED TO PROVOKE ME WITH ‘JACKIE’ COMMENT

After the game, White Sox manager Tony LaRussa said that Donaldson "made a racist statement." 

"He made a racist comment," La Russa said. "That’s all I’m going to say."

WHITE SOX ACCUSE YANKEES JOSH DONALDSON OF MAKING RACIST ‘JACKIE’ REMARK; MLB INVESTIGATING

Anderson, who told Sports Illustrated in 2019 that "I kind of feel