Dodgers, Giants wear pride caps supporting LGBTQ+ in same game for first time | Bleacher report

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants may be old rivals in the baseball diamond, but they came together for a historic moment during Saturday’s game at Oracle Park.

They were the first Major League Baseball teams to wear Pride caps in support of the LGBTQ+ community in the same game.

According to MLB.com Sonya Chen, the Giants became the first MLB team to include Pride colors in their uniforms for the 2021 season. They used an “SF” logo Pride patch as well as a hat that incorporated Pride colors into the logo.

“We’re really looking forward to working with the Dodgers on this, to really coming together and emphasizing that it’s not enough to begrudgingly accept any community,” said Giants manager Gabe Kapler. “It’s really important for everyone to feel wanted and valued, and that’s absolutely true for the LGBTQ+ community.”

The Dodgers hosted their ninth annual LGBTQ+ Night at Dodger Stadium on June 3 against the New York Mets.

This gesture between the Dodgers and Giants is a positive sign for MLB given recent criticism of the Tampa Bay Rays’ handling of Pride Night on June 4.

Five Rays pitchers chose not to wear the Pride colors on their uniforms during a game against the Chicago White Sox.

Jason Adam, who was chosen by the organization to speak on behalf of the players who did not attend the celebration, tried to justify the decision when speaking to reporters:

“So it’s a tough decision. Because ultimately we’ve all said what we want is for them to know that everyone is welcome and loved here. But as we put it on our bodies, many people decided that maybe it’s just a lifestyle – not that they look down on anyone or think differently – it’s just that we might not want to encourage it as we believe in Jesus believe who encouraged us to lead a lifestyle that would renounce this behavior, just like [Jesus] encourages me, as a straight man, to abstain from sex outside of marriage. It’s no different.”

Bryan Ruby, a professional baseball player, narrated United States today‘s Scott Gleeson that the Rays players’ stance “sends a very clear message, and that message is: LGBTQ people are not welcome here.”

June is officially Pride Month, and sports leagues around the world are joining the celebration to make LGBTQ+ fans feel welcome.

According to Outsports’ Ken Schultz, 28 MLB teams have at least one Pride Night celebration scheduled for games at their stadiums this month.