NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
The Attorneys General of Missouri and Florida have responded strongly to the controversy that sparked when Major League Baseball warned three San Francisco Giants players about inscribing a Bible verse on their Pride Night caps, and that response includes MLB being served with a subpoena signaling the launch of an official investigation.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier began his investigation Friday by serving MLB with a subpoena to investigate whether it violates players’ civil rights based on their religious beliefs.
The general purpose and scope of Florida’s investigation “extends to possible civil rights and deceptive and unfair trade practice violations in employment matters relating to the business practices, policies and procedures of Major League Baseball,” according to the subpoena obtained by Pakinomist Digital.
In a letter from Uthmeier to MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred, the AG warns that “a pattern or practice of selectively enforcing its rules in favor of favored secular beliefs over unfavorable religious beliefs would not only potentially violate Florida civil rights law, but it would also violate the League’s own policies.”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FACES BACKLASH FOR ITS STAND ON CHRISTIANS WRITING BIBLE VERSES ON PRIDE CAPS
“And a practice of claiming not to discriminate based on religion while discriminating based on religion may further constitute an unfair or deceptive trade practice in violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.”
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier speaks at a news conference in Orlando on July 15, 2025, where he said US Masters Swimming should not allow transgender athletes to compete against female swimmers or face legal action. Attorneys Cassidy Carlisle and Lainey Armistead also attended. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service)
Uthmeier is particularly troubled by the fact that MLB said its warning had nothing to do with the players’ religious beliefs, but rather was due to a violation of the league’s uniform code.
It should be noted that MLB said in a follow-up statement to its initial warning to players that it was merely enforcing its uniform codes, and the warning had nothing to do with Giants pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker writing a Bible verse on the team’s Pride Night Cap, which most of the other players wore.
MLB ACCUSED OF ‘DOUBLE STANDARD’ AFTER INCLUDE PLAYERS’ BIBLE MESSAGES DESPITE BLM BACKING IN 2020
Uthmeier noted that’s not true, and in his letter presented a handful of examples where MLB has been perfectly fine with players adding to their uniforms.
“In 2019, for example, a Cincinnati Reds player wrote on his cap a tribute to a nearby mass shooting,” Uthmeier wrote to Manfred. And in 2020, MLB apparently added sweeping new exceptions to its uniform rules by allowing players to “support social justice and diversity and inclusion.” Those policy changes included allowing players to add Black Lives Matter patches to their sleeves.
“MLB therefore appears to condone — even change its rules for — the ideological beliefs it prefers, but targets players who express religious views the League disapproves of.”
Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr. speaks at the 2024 MLB Draft presented by Nike at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas on July 14, 2024. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Florida subpoena, issued under the Florida Civil Rights Act, seeks action by MLB by July 23, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. At that time, MLB must provide documents to the AG’s office, including:
- Any documents regarding how MLB characterized or classified the June 2026 cap writing, including, for example, whether MLB treated it as religious expression, political messages, protest, or an offense unrelated to its content.
- All documents regarding what prompted MLB’s review of and warning regarding the June 2026 cap writing, including any complaint, media inquiry, internal escalation or third-party communication received before the warning was issued and the timing of each in relation to the warning.
- All documents regarding the actual June 2026 warnings issued by MLB to any club.
- All documents, including drafts and internal considerations, regarding MLB’s decision to issue and publicly announce the June 2026 warnings, and any analysis of whether this complied with the Code or with MLB’s treatment of comparable non-religious expressions.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp wrote “Genesis 9:12-16” on his Pride-Night themed hat. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Uthmeier thus joins Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, who recently wrote a letter to Manfred asking the commissioner to confirm that no player who has chosen to refrain from “wearing Pride Month gear or included Bible verses on Pride Month hats” will not be disciplined in any way.
Hanaway’s letter says that if Manfred fails to respond by June 25 or confirms that no discipline will be imposed, she will also open an investigation by MLB.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
The two attorneys general have authority over their individual states. But it affects four MLB teams.
Florida is home to two MLB teams – the Tampa Bay Rays and the Miami Marlins – while Missouri is home to the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals.
FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO
