MLB great Jim Edmonds says he wouldn’t have tolerated National Anthem protests: ‘We stand up and salute’
Former Major League Baseball star Jim Edmonds is not one to take patriotism lightly. And as he told Tomi Lahren in a new interview, he would not tolerate any disrespect towards the United States in one of his clubhouses.
Edmonds played in the major leagues for 17 seasons and earned a reputation as one of the best defensive center fielders baseball has ever seen. He won an astounding eight Gold Gloves, made four All-Star teams and hit nearly 400 home runs during his career.
Old St. St. Louis Cardinals player Jim Edmonds, Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals player St. Louis Cardinals on April 4, 2024. He stands on the field before the game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. (Dilip Vishwanat/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
But as he told Lahren, it wasn’t just his performance on the field that mattered to him, it was respect for the U.S. National Anthem and the American flag.
Lahren and Edmonds discussed whether baseball has become more “political” and how players and the community responded to the summer of 2020 and the George Floyd protests.
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Edmonds addressed this by shifting the topic to his personal beliefs, saying things have changed a bit.
“I think people have realized that it’s a great thing to do to get to know these people, but you also have to get to know, let’s say based on my beliefs, the National Anthem.
St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame member Jim Edmonds died in St. Louis on April 4, 2024. He walks around the warning track during pre-game ceremonies at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. (Joe Puetz/Getty Images)
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“There’s a reason we play the National Anthem every day. There’s a reason we stand up and salute. It’s no different than seeing President Trump and the Army walk by. They salute each other. That’s what we do, that’s what we’re taught. I really don’t have room for that.”
When Edmonds was the captain of a baseball team, if someone had pretended to be Colin Kaepernick in his clubhouse, there would have been an argument.
Old St. St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony Larussa on April 13, 2015. St. Louis, Mo., at Busch Stadium. He shakes hands with former player Jim Edmonds before the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers. (Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports)
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“While I’m supposed to be like the captain, if someone on our team did this, which we’ve never had, I’d introduce myself and say, ‘Hey, what’s going on? You’ve got to keep educating on why we’re standing. I understand what you’re trying to do, but what are we doing?’ Really to do?'”
Fortunately, baseball is not as extreme as some other sports when it comes to politicized gestures. But it’s still refreshing to hear a professional athlete say there’s a reason we’re allowed to participate in and enjoy sporting events as recreation and leisure. Underestimating this is actually bad and should not be celebrated. I wish some other prominent athletes felt the same way.
