Jeter aims to inspire change
Marlins CEO brings issues of race to the forefront
Miami Marlins CEO and part owner Derek Jeter addressed racial inequality and injustice in both society and baseball in an interview with MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds that aired on Friday evening.
Jeter, who will be inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame for his 20-year playing career with the New York Yankees in which he won five World Series, is optimistic race relations in America will improve off widespread protests and movements following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“Something needs to change. It gets to a point where you say enough is enough,” Jeter said. “For the first time, you’re seeing people across all 50 states and roughly 20 other countries, people of all different races and different nationalities, out there in agreement. Now is the time, and things need to change because it’s been going on for too long.”
Within the organization, Jeter said the Marlins sent out anonymous surveys to staff and players to hear their thoughts on issues of race, and he wants to promote the idea of having uncomfortable conversations that help inspire change.
He also communicated to players that the organization will support them when they want to speak up on issues that are important to them.
Jeter shared some of his own experiences growing up as a biracial child, his father Black and mother white.
“Growing up when I grew up, at the time, interracial marriage was not as common as you might see nowadays,” he said. “Every time you went somewhere with just one of your parents, people would look at you and they’d wonder, ‘Who’s this person you’re with?’ When you went out to eat or to a store with both parents, you really got some uncomfortable looks.”
Jeter explained that he experienced racial profiling.
“I’m not the darkest brother in the world,” Jeter said, “but I’ve been pulled over driving down the
street growing up. I’ve been accused of stealing things from stores. We’re not here to go back and forth of whose stories are worse, but that’s just how it is and how it’s been. You wish things would’ve changed by now, but that’s not the case.”
Through Jeter’s experiences in his youth, he has taken lessons from his parents forward in life.
“My parents were very direct with me — my sister, as well,” Jeter said. “Surround yourself with people of all nationalities, all colors. Don’t let anyone talk down to you because of your race. Speak up for yourself.”
Jeter is proud to represent his parents’ wishes in the Marlins’ front office.
“We’re very fortunate down here in Miami, we’ve had a very diverse front office,” Jeter said. “When you’re talking about moving forward and where we can go from here, I want to get to a point where diversity is expected. We’re down here in a very diverse city of Miami, and it should be a reflection of the city and the culture and the people that are here. That’s how you get more insight, ideas and knowledge.”
Jeter wants to see more diversity among baseball executives. Friday’s MLB Network program, called “A Conversation,” displayed statistics that Major League Baseball has Black people in just 6.7 percent of top front office decisionmaking positions with Miami Marlins President Michael Hill one of them along with Kenny Williams of the Chicago White Sox.
MLB ranks just ahead of the NFL (6.3 percent) — the Miami Dolphins contributing to that with Chris Grier as general manager — but the NBA is far ahead of both at 23.3 percent.
“This is an industry that needs to change,” Jeter said. “We need to see more people of color, more diversity at the owners’ meetings. We need to see it at the [general manager] meetings. We need to see it everywhere throughout the game. On the field, need to see it, but you can’t just talk about it, you have to take action.”