Dominic Smith Did What Carlos Delgado Couldn’t

Before Colin Kaepernick, there was Carlos Delgado. Back when he was in Toronto, Delgado would sit in the dugout during the playing of “God Bless America.”

The reason for Delgado’s protest was against the Iraq war. Delgado’s protest was colored as a more general anti-war stance as he was also staunchly opposed to the US military’s use of the Puerto Rican island of Vieques.

Delgado continued sitting in the dugout during his final year with the Blue Jays and then in his first and only year with the Florida Marlins. New Yorkers who viewed the song as a 9/11 healing song would boo Delgado.

Delgado’s sitting in the dugout was a significant issue when the Mets obtained him via trade. When asked about it, Delgado said, “The Mets have a policy that everybody should stand for ‘God Bless America’ and I will be there. I will not cause any distractions to the ballclub…. Just call me Employee Number 21.”” (The Nation).

When asked about Delgado’s forced compliance, Jeff Wilpon said, “He’s going to have his own personal views, which he’s going to keep to himself.”

Fast forward 16 years.

The issue of police shootings of black people has been a significant issue in 2020. It was on Opening Day when nearly all of the Mets players wore “Black Lives Matter” shirts.

However, no one knelt for the anthem. On that subject, Dominic Smith said, “taking a knee just isn’t enough.” After the shooting of George Floyd something changed.

For the first time in Mets history, a Mets player didn’t stand for the “National Anthem” or “God Bless America.” This went against long standing Mets policy, and at the moment, we don’t know if any instructions were given to the 2020 Mets the way they were once given to Delgado.

On the kneeling, Smith gave a tearful statement in his postgame press conference:

Some will agree with the kneeling. Others won’t. That’s within your right, and having an opinion on the kneeling doesn’t de facto make you a good or bad person. In this world, there’s room for nuance and respectful debate.

Instead of focusing on the act, we need to focus on the words. That’s what Michael Conforto, who stood for the anthem, did:

As Mets fans, and really as human beings, we need to give Smith support in the same way Conforto did. We need to hear his words and understand the courage it took.

And yes, it took real courage. It took courage because he was there on his own doing it. It took courage because he was speaking out. It took courage because we know Mets ownership has previously silenced such acts.

In the end, we should all be proud we have a player like Smith wearing a Mets uniform. He’s a great ballplayer, a better person, and an even better role model. At this time, he needs us to hear him and give him our support . . . support Delgado had never received.

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