What did Jim Kaat say? Broadcaster issues apology over slavery comment directed at Yoan Moncada

On Friday, 8 October 2021, MLB Network broadcaster Jim Kaat made an insensitive comment while complimenting Chicago White Sox's Yoan Moncada. Subsequently, Kaat received severe backlash online. Netizens claimed that his remark alluded to slavery.The comment was made during the American League Division Series game between the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros. After Moncada stepped up to the plate during the first inning, former MLB manager Buck Showalter recalled meeting the White Sox third baseman.Showalter recounted scouting Yoan Moncada for the Baltimore Orioles. With the game hanging in the balance, the former praised Moncada and said,&quot;Can we have one of those?&quot;Subsequently, Jim Kaat replied to Showalter by quipping,&quot;Get a 40-acre field full of 'em.&quot;Jim Kaat apologizes over his &quot;40-acres&quot; commentThe 82-year old former pro-baseball player, associated with the Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals, later apologized for his comment.Later during the game, Jim Kaat lamented,&quot;Earlier in the game, when Yoan Moncada was at the plate, in an attempt to compliment the great player that he is, I used a poor choice of words that resulted in an insensitive and hurtful remark. And I'm sorry for that.&quot;However, the broadcaster did not clarify if he was referring to anything other than the &quot;Forty acres and a mule&quot; order.Why is Jim Kaat's comment with the &quot;40-acres&quot; reference labeled as offensive?Many believed Kaat's comments echoed back to the &quot;Forty acres and a mule&quot; wartime order issued during the American Civil War. The order, by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, was proclaimed on 16 January 1865. It stated that freed families of slaves would get 40-acres of land along with a mule to reform their lives.However, from 1865 to 1877, almost all lands given to the indentured were returned to the previous white owners during the Reconstruction era.Further controversy has risen from Yoan Moncada's Cuban heritage. For Cuban-natives, slavery is a sensitive topic as well. Cuba was a significant part of the Atlantic Slave Trade because of the country's sugar plantations. Notably, Spanish colonizers almost wiped out the country's entire indigenous population (Tainos) by 1600s.Here's how baseball fans reacted to Jim Kaat's &quot;40-acres&quot; phraseSeveral fans alleged that Jim Kaat was glaringly aware of his choice of words while complimenting Moncada. However, the younger demographic is largely unaware of the reference behind this term.Dan Ewen Ⓥ@VaguelyFunnyDanHey @MLB @MLBTV can we maybe talk about this &quot;Get a 40 acre field full of 'em&quot; comment by the announcer?11:59 AM · Oct 8, 20212484498Hey @MLB @MLBTV can we maybe talk about this &quot;Get a 40 acre field full of 'em&quot; comment by the announcer? https://t.co/BWDmkbCFI85 The Legend@5theLegend@VaguelyFunnyDan @MLB @MLBTV For those who aren’t aware “40 acres” is a phrase tied to slavery. But here you are not offended by that but do seem offended that Kaat had apologized. Which is strange.3:29 AM · Oct 9, 20212@VaguelyFunnyDan @MLB @MLBTV For those who aren’t aware “40 acres” is a phrase tied to slavery. But here you are not offended by that but do seem offended that Kaat had apologized. Which is strange.Jeff August@jeffaugust8Sorry if this hurts your feelings, but if it does... maybe reflect on why. Plus, Jim Kaat apologized because he knew exactly what &quot;40 acres&quot; is a reference to, no poll needed. twitter.com/jeffaugust8/st…Jeff August@jeffaugust8People trying to minimize a slavery ref by pointing out Jim Kaat was complimenting Yoan Moncada are the dumbest of the dumb. The most unthinking, moldy, idiotic, pieces of rhino dung scraped from the bottom of the dregs of society's shoe. Kaat knows what &quot;40 acres&quot; means.7:40 AM · Oct 9, 2021104People trying to minimize a slavery ref by pointing out Jim Kaat was complimenting Yoan Moncada are the dumbest of the dumb. The most unthinking, moldy, idiotic, pieces of rhino dung scraped from the bottom of the dregs of society's shoe. Kaat knows what &quot;40 acres&quot; means.1:49 AM · Oct 11, 2018Sorry if this hurts your feelings, but if it does... maybe reflect on why. Plus, Jim Kaat apologized because he knew exactly what &quot;40 acres&quot; is a reference to, no poll needed. twitter.com/jeffaugust8/st…Steven S. Sidman@sidman_steven@BrienMartin3 @KeithOlbermann &quot;40 acres&quot; is not just some random measurement. It's an historically loaded reference, on Kaat has heard scores of times, no doubt.1:42 AM · Oct 9, 20212@BrienMartin3 @KeithOlbermann &quot;40 acres&quot; is not just some random measurement. It's an historically loaded reference, on Kaat has heard scores of times, no doubt.Keith Olbermann@KeithOlbermannPrevious recountings of the Kaat apology implied he was ‘forced’ to read it - the audio here isn’t very clear but it is clear he in fact he said he NEEDED to apologize for a “poor choice of words” (“40 acres full of them”) regarding Yoan Moncada1:50 AM · Oct 9, 2021399Previous recountings of the Kaat apology implied he was ‘forced’ to read it - the audio here isn’t very clear but it is clear he in fact he said he NEEDED to apologize for a “poor choice of words” (“40 acres full of them”) regarding Yoan Moncada https://t.co/95pU8IQ8NnBradford William Davis (“playoff b”)@BWDBWDBWDlast thing. Kaat's euphemism is antiquated enough to be unmistakably racialized.but 40 acres or not, every single club wants to &quot;stockpile assets&quot; for their field. THAT is the Problem underscoring the problem, and MLB is fine with it -- so long as it's described the right way.2:27 AM · Oct 9, 202116525last thing. Kaat's euphemism is antiquated enough to be unmistakably racialized.but 40 acres or not, every single club wants to &quot;stockpile assets&quot; for their field. THAT is the Problem underscoring the problem, and MLB is fine with it -- so long as it's described the right way.Jon Tayler, Top 0.1% On OnlyJons@JATaylerKaat just gave a six-second apology for the 40 acres comment that he started with &quot;I need to read this,&quot; the broadcast immediately went to an in-game ad, and then Kaat started talking about base runners immediately afterward1:29 AM · Oct 9, 202129642Kaat just gave a six-second apology for the 40 acres comment that he started with &quot;I need to read this,&quot; the broadcast immediately went to an in-game ad, and then Kaat started talking about base runners immediately afterward🇵🇭 YoYo's Bizarre Adventure (ᜋᜆᜒᜂ)@The_MendozerWith the &quot;40 acres&quot; comment from Jim Kaat about Yoán Moncada getting some more coverage, White Sox will win the ALDS in 5 now because the international pop sensation will have his revenge5:30 AM · Oct 9, 20212With the &quot;40 acres&quot; comment from Jim Kaat about Yoán Moncada getting some more coverage, White Sox will win the ALDS in 5 now because the international pop sensation will have his revengebrad meyer@bradmeyer71@Hutch__ @j_nucero @VaguelyFunnyDan @MLB @MLBTV It's &quot;oddly specific&quot; because it's a common farm field/ land parcel size. 40 acres, 80 acres, 160 acres. I am quite willing to bet Kaat said that phrase without an ounce of malice.2:00 AM · Oct 9, 202125@Hutch__ @j_nucero @VaguelyFunnyDan @MLB @MLBTV It's &quot;oddly specific&quot; because it's a common farm field/ land parcel size. 40 acres, 80 acres, 160 acres. I am quite willing to bet Kaat said that phrase without an ounce of malice.Multiple American League Division Series followers have also opined on Kaat's poor choice of words. They have expressed doubts over his comment being a matter of coincidence.

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