SF, LA make history by joining to celebrate Pride Day

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants and the Dodgers may be archrivals, but they came together in a historic show of unity to empower the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month. Both teams took the field in Pride caps on Saturday, incorporating colors from the LGBTQ+ Pride flag into their classic SF and LA logos. It was the first time that two MLB teams wore Pride caps in the same game.

"To have the Dodgers join us in wearing the Pride cap is a powerful sign of unity," Giants president and CEO Larry Baer said in a press release. "While our organizations have a long-storied rivalry on-field, we can use our collective platform to elevate the LGBTQ+ community and break down stereotypes.”

The Giants were the first team to incorporate Pride colors into their on-field uniforms in 2021. Now, three teams across MLB have used Pride symbolism in their logos in 2022.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said prior to the game that he is excited to take this step forward in empowering the LGBTQ+ community.

"We’re really looking forward to partnering with the Dodgers on this, and really coming together and emphasizing that it’s not enough to kind of reluctantly accept any community," Kapler said. "It’s really important that everybody feels wanted and appreciated, and that is absolutely true for the LGBTQ+ community.

"We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure that that feeling of being welcome is really evident in our ballpark.”

Kapler said he had conversations with Giants players and staff about the uniforms and expected full participation from the team going into Saturday, especially since this is the second season that the team has worn Pride-themed logos on the field.

The Dodgers debuted their Pride caps at Dodger Stadium's Pride Night on June 3, when they also paid tribute to Glenn Burke, the first openly gay player in MLB. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said incorporating Pride colors into the team's logo continues the franchise's tradition of inclusion.

“It just speaks to the Dodgers as far as being barrier-breakers, being forward-thinking and being all-inclusive," Roberts said on the Dodgers' Pride Night. "There’s so much discrimination in our world. That community has certainly been a victim of it. So I think they can also appreciate how welcoming and open the Dodgers are."

The on-field Pride uniforms are just one way the Giants are celebrating Pride Day at Oracle Park. The club hosted some prominent figures in the LGBTQ+ community in pregame ceremonies: Dale Scott, the only umpire in professional baseball to come out as gay during his career, delivered the lineup cards, and Bay Area native Amy Schneider, who is trans and a 40-time "Jeopardy!" champion, threw out the first pitch.