SAN FRANCISCO — Padres acting third base coach Mike Shildt and Giants first base coach Antoan Richardson met Wednesday morning on the field at Oracle Park to clear the air over an incident Richardson made public the previous night.
After the Giants' 13-2 victory over the Padres, Richardson told Bay Area reporters Shildt had used "undertones of racism" in an exchange at the start of the third inning.
Wednesday, Richardson clarified he had not meant to imply Shildt had done so purposefully.
"I want to make it very clear that in no way do I believe that Shildty is a racist," Richardson said. "What I was trying to do is just bring awareness to how words can impact certain communities, even though they may not have ill intent. And it's just helping us to be more aware of what those things mean when we do share them."
Standing on the dirt circle behind home plate, Richardson and Shildt took turns addressing a phalanx of reporters.
"I'm grateful to Antoan for clearing that up; clearly misinterpreted and I think he knows this, and my value as a human is to love people," Shildt said. "And that's exactly what I represent. So I appreciate him clearing that up for myself and my family. Because it's really important that is clear. I don't know Antoan's heritage. I can't walk in his shoes. I can only have empathy and love, which I do have and I've always had in my life."
Richardson was somewhat surprisingly ejected at the top of the third inning and explained Tuesday night he was responding to Shildt when third base umpire Greg Gibson tossed him.
"He yelled, 'You need to control that (expletive that begins with mother),' " said Richardson, who is of Bahamian heritage. "At that point in time, I went up to the top step and I said, 'Excuse me?' I couldn't believe what I heard. … I think that his words were disproportionately unwarranted and (had) undertones of racism when he referred to me as 'that (expletive),' as if I am to be controlled or a piece of property or enslaved. I think it's just really important that we understand what happened tonight."
The Giants' dugout is on the third base side, and Shildt explained Wednesday he was actually trying to keep things from escalating when the incident happened. The Giants had stolen a base with a nine-run lead in the bottom of the second inning, irking some Padres.
"There's some emotions running high," Shildt said. "I look over, we looked at each other. And then I looked in the dugout to find a couple of guys … that I have had relationships when they were younger or managed before. And I was looking for some support to try to diffuse the situation. I couldn't find them. And then we had words exchanged. I'm not going to get into the who started it. I think we're past that point."
Shildt apologized for using what he called inappropriate language.
"I'm sensitive to Antoan's rightful understanding or experiences of what he feels is oppression that takes place in this world, and unfortunately, there's still an undercurrent to that that's real to people," Shildt said. "And also in no way, shape or form was that in the context of what … was said last night, and I'm grateful."
Before walking back to the Padres' clubhouse, Shildt referred to Giants coach Alyssa Nakken becoming the first female to coach on the field during an MLB game. She replaced Richardson.
"We're here to play baseball," Shildt said. "The one thing I've always loved about our game is, regardless of your color of your skin, regardless of your socioeconomic (situation), regardless of what language you speak, and now thankfully, regardless of your gender — we had a beautiful moment last night with Alyssa, and it allows me the opportunity to be able to speak into my stepdaughters about the empowerment that is our sport and what it can represent.
"And I think good is going to come with this because now the reality is, is we handled a tough solution publicly, as men with solution … in our heart, without any animosity. And I think it's a great example of how people that can communicate together regardless of background or color, or situation less than 12 hours later so we can be here standing together as brothers and represent things moving forward and move forward and ultimately go play the great game that is the greatest game in the world."
