Racism is still a big problem in Major League Baseball, and it’s not getting the attention it deserves. In 2017, Adam Jones was called the N-word multiple times at Fenway Park. That kind of stuff should never happen, especially at a professional game. Then in 2021, Marcus Stroman was disrespected on live TV when broadcaster Bob Brenly made a racist comment about his head covering, saying, “Pretty sure that’s the same do-rag that Tom Seaver used to wear” (ESPN, 2021). Stroman responded on Twitter, calling out the racist undertones, but the league barely reacted. It’s frustrating that players of color have to deal with this kind of hate while MLB mostly stays quiet.

The MLB doesn’t even have a league-wide policy for racist fan behavior—teams decide on their own, which means nothing is consistent or enforced. Former player Torii Hunter once said he avoided getting traded to Boston because he got called racial slurs there so often by fans (ESPN, 2020). That’s not okay. If the league truly cared about protecting players, there would already be rules in place to stop this from happening. It’s time for a change.

As a concession worker at Fenway Park, I want baseball to be a racism free game. I’m asking Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB leadership to step up. There should be a clear, league-wide policy to ban racist fans for life. Teams should also be required to support players who speak out and offer anti-racism education to season ticket holders and game-day fans. Players deserve to feel safe and respected when they step on the field. If MLB wants to be “America’s pastime,” then it needs to be a game for everyone, not just the people who stay silent.