Tribune News ServicesLos Angeles Angels center fielder Torii Hunter insists he meant no harm toward Latino players when he referred to them as "impostors" while discussing the number of African-Americans in the major leagues, comments that drew a retort from White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.
Hunter's original comments were made two weeks ago in one of a series of USA Today roundtables about baseball and published in Wednesday's editions.
"What troubles me most was the word "impostors" appearing in reference to Latin American players not being black players. It was the wrong word choice, and it definitely doesn't accurately reflect how I feel and who I am," Hunter posted on his Angels-sponsored blog Wednesday afternoon.
"What I meant was they're not black players; they're Latin American players. There is a difference culturally. But on the field, we're all brothers, no matter where we come from, and that's something I've always taken pride in: treating everybody the same, whether he's a superstar or a young kid breaking into the game. Where he was born and raised makes no difference."
Photo: The Angels' Torii Hunter says fans have a misconception regarding the number of blacks playing baseball. (Kevin Sullivan/AP)
Hunter has long been known as one of baseball's sincere, good guys.
In the blog post, he added: "I am hurt by how the comments attributed to me went off the track and misrepresented how I feel. My whole identity has been about bringing people together, from my neighborhood to the clubhouse. The point I was trying to make was that there is a difference between black players coming from American neighborhoods and players from Latin America. In the clubhouse, there is no difference at all. We're all the same.
"We all come from different places and backgrounds. Coming from Pine Bluff, Ark., my hometown, is no different than being a kid from San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. We all share the common bond of a love of baseball, and it pulls us together on the field and in the clubhouse," he wrote.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the article's author, said he spoke by phone with Hunter for 30 minutes Wednesday after Hunter's blog update was posted.
"He said: 'I'm not going to apologize. I told the truth. I'm sorry if I used the wrong choice of words, but impostor is not a racist word,"' Nightengale said. "He's more upset by the reaction to the story."
In the report, Hunter was quoted as saying: "People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American. They're not us. They're impostors. Even people I know come up and say: 'Hey, what color is Vladimir Guerrero? Is he a black player?' I say, 'Come on, he's Dominican. He's not black.' ...
"As African-American players, we have a theory that baseball can go get an imitator and pass them off as us. It's like they had to get some kind of dark faces, so they go to the Dominican or Venezuela because you can get them cheaper. It's like, 'Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?' ... I'm telling you, it's sad," he said.
Guillen, a Venezuelan, scoffed at Hunter's remarks before Wednesday's game against the Oakland Athletics. Angels spokesman Eric Kay said Hunter will not further discuss the subject.
"I was laughing because when he said, 'They go there and sign for potato chips,' I said, 'Well, we've got Chapman. They gave him $12 million. (Cincinnati actually agreed to a $30.25 million, six-year contract with pitcher Aroldis Chapman.) We've got (prospect Dayan) Viciedo. They gave him $10 million. I remember in my time, one scout goes (to Venezuela and) 30 players show up. Now, 30 scouts go there and one player shows up. In our country, we play baseball. That's no choice. Here you can play basketball, you can be another athlete, you can do so many things when you have the opportunity. And that's why there's not many (African-American) players out there."
There has been some concern about the number of African-American baseball players. Many blacks are choosing to play other sports instead.
In the blog post, he added: "I am hurt by how the comments attributed to me went off the track and misrepresented how I feel. My whole identity has been about bringing people together, from my neighborhood to the clubhouse. The point I was trying to make was that there is a difference between black players coming from American neighborhoods and players from Latin America. In the clubhouse, there is no difference at all. We're all the same.
"We all come from different places and backgrounds. Coming from Pine Bluff, Ark., my hometown, is no different than being a kid from San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. We all share the common bond of a love of baseball, and it pulls us together on the field and in the clubhouse," he wrote.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the article's author, said he spoke by phone with Hunter for 30 minutes Wednesday after Hunter's blog update was posted.
"He said: 'I'm not going to apologize. I told the truth. I'm sorry if I used the wrong choice of words, but impostor is not a racist word,"' Nightengale said. "He's more upset by the reaction to the story."
In the report, Hunter was quoted as saying: "People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American. They're not us. They're impostors. Even people I know come up and say: 'Hey, what color is Vladimir Guerrero? Is he a black player?' I say, 'Come on, he's Dominican. He's not black.' ...
"As African-American players, we have a theory that baseball can go get an imitator and pass them off as us. It's like they had to get some kind of dark faces, so they go to the Dominican or Venezuela because you can get them cheaper. It's like, 'Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?' ... I'm telling you, it's sad," he said.
Guillen, a Venezuelan, scoffed at Hunter's remarks before Wednesday's game against the Oakland Athletics. Angels spokesman Eric Kay said Hunter will not further discuss the subject.
"I was laughing because when he said, 'They go there and sign for potato chips,' I said, 'Well, we've got Chapman. They gave him $12 million. (Cincinnati actually agreed to a $30.25 million, six-year contract with pitcher Aroldis Chapman.) We've got (prospect Dayan) Viciedo. They gave him $10 million. I remember in my time, one scout goes (to Venezuela and) 30 players show up. Now, 30 scouts go there and one player shows up. In our country, we play baseball. That's no choice. Here you can play basketball, you can be another athlete, you can do so many things when you have the opportunity. And that's why there's not many (African-American) players out there."
There has been some concern about the number of African-American baseball players. Many blacks are choosing to play other sports instead.
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I think Hunter has a point, and that perhaps his bad choice of words, "Obscured" that point.
You take Ball Players from The Dominican Republic, facially they are Black(for the most part) but ask them-
"are they Black?"
and they'll answer with a resounding NO!
Blacks or African Americans see Africa, as their- "Country of Origin", whereas a Dominican thinks or believes that his heritage begins and ends in the Dominican Republic. (for whatever reason)Almost completely ignoring their African heritage.
I think all Hunter was saying is:
Don't think because a team has a bunch of dark guys on the roster(who just happen to speak another language) that a GM's job is done. Put as much ENERGY into Cultivating a program in these inner-cities as you do in Latin-America, and(THEN) see what happens. Don't get me wrong,- When we step between the lines, "We all are brothers-" with 1-goal WINNING.
There is also perhaps a certain- "disingenuous" nature to Black Latin ball players that rubs Hunter wrong as well.
As "SAM"-
Incorrectly put it- "Black ain't Black". A Black or African American can "cajole," "empathize" or even speak for that matter, with a fellow A-American about something like- what College both attended, what city they hailed from. Whereas, with a Black Latin athlete, you might have to(first) bridge the language gap, and/or keep conversation very general in nature.
TRUE STORY... I went to school with, played with a lot of Black Hispanic ball players. They would be conversing in Spanish to each other,(which I thought was very rude), I began to speak to them in perfect Spanish how I felt about what they were doing, Their mouths "collectively" dropped, for, "They" had no idea I was fluent in Spanish.
(BTW- they were talking about the fat Gringo girls on the home team side of the stands).
Many Black Latin players also seem to ignore the fact that if it wasn't for a guy Named Jackie Robinson, they'd all probably still be in the Caribbean, chopping down sugarcane and working the fields.
Don't "Twist" his words or get it "twisted"- folks.
Hunter is a heck-of-a ballplayer, and a team leader. He exposed 1- of the dirty little secrets of Baseball.
I APPLAUD him for it.
I hope what he said leads to- OPEN- CLEAN,- HONEST, DISCOURSE.
I disagree...I believe less black athletes take up baseball because it is a sport that requires a little bit of money to play. Gloves, bats, cleats, bags, etc are not cheap. Football, you buy cleats and put on whatever uniform they give you. Basketball, you need shoes and socks...it's tough. Why do you think lower income areas rarely produce quality high school teams?
This is why the MLB inner city initiative is so vital. A whole generation of athletes have missed out on an amazing game because they were born into tough situations. It's my hope that this great game will be given to those less fortunate so they can see how amazing it truly is.
The reason blacks from USA don't play as much baseball is because it is not fast enough or violent enough. It doesn't have the speed of basketball or the sheer violence of football. Nor does baseball have the high school or college support (fans or administration) that foot/basketball have.
Hunter is wrong.
The ethnic composition of the Dominican population is 73% multiracial,primarily a mixture of European and African.
Take a look at players such as Alfonso Soriano, David Ortiz, etc.
They have African features.
"Impostors" is a strong term used by this moron. Hunter should follow Crash Davis's advice when you get to the show..just tell 'em you're glad to be here.
What if a white player would have said the same thing about black players? How quickly would he have been fined and suspended? Again, ignorance is prevalent in ALL cultures and races.
BUT, society is too sensitive anyways. This is his opinion, and he's entitled to it. Free speech and thought is still free, isn't it? Leave it to the media to villainize someone for their opinion. As much as I disagreed 100% with what John Rocker said back in the day, he was still entitled to his opinion...
The problem, Tori, is that the word "imposter" is used when there is an intent to deceive. You need to get a better handle on the English language.
First off, Hunter is an idiot. Black is black. The term African American is used by PC dolts and nobody else. Jamacans are black, but are neither African or American. Many Africans are black, that doesn't make them American.
Also, who is this "we" Guillen is refering to? Didn't he become an American citizen?
Oh, and Ozzie, visa ares used to legally gain entry into the U.S., what the hell does that have to do with Americans playing baseball in the U.S., clown?