AT&T PARK — Last Saturday, days after several Twitter users discovered Milwaukee Brewers reliever Josh Hader had posted racist, sexist and homophobic tweets in 2011 and 2012, Brewers fans at Miller Park greeted him to a standing ovation — a surprising show of support given his offensive language used toward numerous marginalized groups.
The reception he got at AT&T Park on Thursday — his first road outing since his social media posts were discovered — was less forgiving. Upon entering in the game with two outs in the sixth inning, there were scattered boos for the left-hander. He was also the subject of negative crowd attention when he exited after inducing a ground out.
Some mild booing as Josh Hader enters. pic.twitter.com/ZuLohSBqiW
— Dan Bernstein (@dan_bernstein_) July 27, 2018
Hader, who attributed his tweets to childhood immaturity, was required by MLB to complete sensitivity training and partake in diversity and inclusion programs as a reprimand for his actions. He was not suspended.
The league has dealt with several ugly incidents in recent seasons. Last year, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar and Oakland A’s outfielder Matt Joyce were suspended for yelling anti-gay slurs — Pillar at an opposing pitcher and Joyce at a fan. Neither of those players were greeted with the kind of ovation Hader received in Milwaukee or the jeers he faced in San Francisco.MLB
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