Was Adam Jones A Victim Of Racism? Red Sox Apologize After Taunts

Boston Red Sox president Sam Kennedy issued a formal apology to Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones Tuesday after Jones said he was hit with a barrage of racist insults during a game at Fenway Park Monday. Jones told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale that fans taunted him and threw a bag of peanuts at him.

“The Red Sox want to publicly apologize to Adam Jones and the entire Orioles organization for what occurred at Fenway Park Monday night. No player should have an object thrown at him on the playing field, nor be subjected to any kind of racism at Fenway Park,” Kennedy said in the apology. “The Red Sox have zero tolerance for such inexcusable behavior and our entire organization and our fans are sickened by the conduct of an ignorant few.”

Jones said that while he’s experienced racism at ballgames in the past, Monday’s experience was one of the worst ever.

“I was called the N-word a handful of times tonight,” he told Nightengale. “It was pretty awesome out there. Thanks. Pretty awesome.”

“Such conduct should be reported immediately to Red Sox security, and any spectator behaving int his manner forfeits his/her right to remain in the ballpark, and may be subject to further action,” Kennedy concluded in the apology. “Our review of last night’s events is ongoing.”

The person who threw the peanuts was ejected from the game by security, officials for the Red Sox confirmed. Jones, for his part, said he believed that the punishment should have gone further.

“What they need to do is that instead of kicking them out of the stadium, they need to fine them 10 grand, 20 grand, 30 grand,” he said. “That’s how you hurt somebody. You suspend them from the stadium, what does that mean? It’s a slap on the wrist.”

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh also apologized to Jones Tuesday.

“This is unacceptable and not who we are as a city,” he said in a statement. “These words and actions have no place in Fenway, Boston, or anywhere. We are better than this.”

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker tweeted his thoughts about the incident.

“Fenway fans behavior at the #RedSox game last night was unacceptable & shameful. This is not what Massachusetts & Boston are about,” he wrote.

Jones called those who were taunting him “cowards” and said it was “pathetic.”

“It’s unfortunate that people need to resort to those types of epithets to degrade another human being. I’m out there trying to make a living for myself and for my family,” he said. “The best thing about myself is that I know how to continue to move on, and still play the game hard. Let people be who they are. Let them show their true colors.”