Yankees Star Jazz Chisholm Jr. Declares Baseball is a 'White Sport'

Baseball, once notorious for its stiff "unwritten rules," has started to loosen up on its traditionalism in recent years. One of the loudest voices embracing this shift is New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., a young star who’s not afraid to let his personality shine—both on and off the field.

Chisholm is known for his unique, basketball-inspired eurostep celebration upon hitting home runs, his tilted cap, and his penchant for vibrant jewelry and non-uniform colors. But this flair hasn’t come without backlash. Critics have repeatedly called him out, and Chisholm believes the root of this criticism lies in one uncomfortable truth: his race.

"I don’t want to say this. Baseball is a White sport. I feel like White people criticize everything that a Black man does. Black men are outspoken. They say what’s on their minds," Chisholm told The Athletic in a frank interview. "The unwritten rules of baseball are White. And I always broke the unwritten rules of baseball."

Chisholm’s boldness has been evident since his MLB debut with the Miami Marlins in 2020. Customized cleats were part of his signature style, but his flair didn’t sit well with everyone. Veteran player Miguel Rojas, in a move that could only be described as petty, reportedly mutilated one pair of Chisholm’s cleats with scissors and ruined another by pouring milk on them. Whether it was rookie hazing or an outright message, the tension between the two players was palpable, and Chisholm was glad to leave Miami for the Bronx last year.

"Nobody would ever cut up my cleats or throw my things away if I were White," Chisholm said, addressing the incident. "If this was a White boy’s stuff, you weren’t gonna cut that s--- up. If a White boy complains, now everybody’s f---ed. But if I complain, it’s not that big of a deal."

Chisholm’s remarks underscore a stark reality: the declining representation of Black players in MLB. Just 6% of players on opening day rosters last year were Black—the lowest figure since 1991. To contrast, the league's percentage of Black players ranged from 17 to 19% between 1973 and 1988. The numbers haven’t hit double digits since 2008.

In a sport striving to modernize, Chisholm’s candid commentary sheds light on the barriers Black players still face. Whether the league can truly embrace its diverse talent while shedding its historically rigid culture remains an open question.