Top prosecutors in several states are moving against Major League Baseball after San Francisco Giants players were warned for writing Bible verses on their hats during a Pride Night game.
The issue drew national attention after the Department of Justice said it had referred the matter for review. Soon after, multiple state attorneys general said they were prepared to examine whether MLB’s actions amounted to religious discrimination.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Saturday that his office sent an investigative subpoena to the league. He said the goal is to determine whether MLB selectively enforced its uniform rules against Christian players.
The move follows a similar warning from Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, who said her office was also prepared to investigate the league.
“By forcing players to promote political and religious beliefs that they disagree with on pain of discipline, MLB is betraying a core tenet of American law and civic culture,” Hanaway said.
On Thursday, DOJ Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said her office had referred the dispute to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
“They don’t mind when players are taking a knee and exhibiting all kinds of stuff on the job, but when people are pushing back on being forced to promote a sexual practice that is against their religion, they’re threatening them,” Dhillon told The California Post.
The controversy began after Giants pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker, and Ryan Walker wrote “Gen. 9:12-16” on rainbow-themed caps worn during the team’s Pride Night game against the Chicago Cubs. The Bible passage refers to God’s covenant with Noah and describes the rainbow as a sign of that covenant.
An MLB spokesman later confirmed that the players had received a warning over the hats. The league then clarified that the warning was “not disciplinary” and said it “had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message.”
MLB said its uniform rules do not allow players to write messages on apparel or equipment. The league also said similar warnings have been issued in the past for personal messages, including “Dad” and “Happy Mother’s Day.”
Dhillon rejected that explanation and pointed to MLB’s past approval of “Black Lives Matter” patches on uniforms. She said the difference in treatment showed a double standard.
Uthmeier said Florida would look into whether MLB’s uniform policy was applied in a way that discriminated against Christians. The league has two teams based in Florida, and many more hold spring training in the state.
“Major League Baseball claims it does not tolerate discrimination based on religion, yet its actions tell a different story,” Uthmeier said.
His office ordered MLB to turn over documents by July 23 related to its uniform rules, enforcement history, and internal communications. The subpoena was issued under the Florida Civil Rights Act and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
Hanaway, in her own letter to MLB, said Missouri would open an investigation unless the league agreed not to discipline players for refusing to wear Pride Night uniforms or for writing Bible verses on their hats. Missouri is home to two MLB teams.
“As America’s pastime, baseball should not discriminate against the moral, political, or religious beliefs of any player,” Hanaway said.
