Orioles Cleared of Anti-Cuban Discrimination

Orioles Cleared in Cuban Ballplayer Discrimination Claims

EEOC, Justice Dep't. conclude no evidence was presented

Baltimore, August 21, 2001 -- The Baltimore Orioles baseball club has come under fire in recent years for possible "anti-defector" actions and policies concerning Cuban defectors. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Justice Department and the offices of Major League Baseball all conducted investigations in 2000, all coming to the same conclusion—no evidence of discrimination. Specifically, the Justice Department, after interviews with dozens of Orioles employees, baseball officials and Latin American agents, and a review of club records, said that: "Our investigation has found no reasonable cause to believe that citizenship status discrimination has occurred. Although the Orioles never were charged formally with any wrongdoing, the club still does not have any players from Cuba on its major league roster or in its minor league system

According to a July 15, 2000 Associated Press article in ESPN.com, Sen. Jesse Helms had asked the EEOC to investigate the team's reported practice of refusing to sign Cuban defectors. He wrote that "My interest, of course, is a sympathetic one for Cubans who manage to flee the repressive regime of Fidel Castro. I do not believe that they should have to endure discrimination when they come to the United States."

According to the recent article in the Washington Times, the Orioles were investigated for possible discrimination against Cuban defectors as a sympathetic gesture toward Cuban president Fidel Castro. Investigators found that the club has several Cuban employees and has attended at least two talent showcases featuring Cuban defectors. The club drew scrutiny from numerous groups last year when general manager Syd Thrift told The Washington Times of the team's anti-Cuban defector policy, created after the team's two-game preseason series in 1999 against the Cuban national team. Thrift told The Times in May 2000 that "It's not really a policy, as much as a philosophy against doing it. After the good will created between the two countries by the visit, we -- Mr. [Peter] Angelos [the team owner] in particular -- feel it best to not do anything that could be interpreted [by Cuba] as being disrespectful, or . . . encouraging players," to defect. Such a stance was unprecedented in American professional sports. Angelos denied the existence of such a policy, but several Orioles front-office executives confirmed the anti-defector stance.

The article notes that more than two dozen Cuban players, including Orlando Hernandez and Danys Baez have defected in recent years, and until this year the Orioles were among baseball’s biggest spenders on the scouting of players throughout the Caribbean, and remain active in this endeavor, but have not signed any Cubans.

Sources:
Washington Times, Aug. 17, 2001

ESPN.COM—July 15, 2001

Matthew Roberts