Justice Department Refers MLB to EEOC Over Giants Players' Bible Verse Caps

The U.S. Department of Justice has referred Major League Baseball to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for investigation after the league warned San Francisco Giants pitchers who wrote Bible verses on their caps during a June 12 Pride Night game.

The incident occurred during the Giants' game against the Chicago Cubs. Three pitchers wrote Bible verses on their caps, including a reference to Genesis 9:12-16 that partially overlapped the rainbow-colored team logo. MLB issued a warning about future uniform violations, stating the issue was the act of writing on game apparel rather than the content of the messages.

In a June 18 letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, the DOJ's Civil Rights Division stated that the league's actions may have burdened players' religious rights. The letter noted MLB's prior allowance of Black Lives Matter patches on uniforms in 2020 and described the different treatment as a potential double standard.

The department framed the matter under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which requires employers to reasonably accommodate employees' religious beliefs unless doing so creates a substantial burden. The EEOC guidance cited in the letter states that religious accommodation can include exceptions to workplace dress rules.

One of the pitchers told reporters after the game that the verse represented God's covenant and expressed gratitude for the freedom to believe and express personal views. He stated there was no intent to convey hate. MLB has not announced any fines or suspensions related to the caps.

The DOJ referral moves the issue from league rules to a federal employment investigation focused on religious accommodation requirements.