Delgado Is Booed for His War Protest

Fervently anti-war, Carlos Delgado has quietly carried out his protest this season, refusing to stand when “God Bless America” was played at ballparks across the majors.

Most fans never saw him disappearing up the dugout tunnel or staying on the bench. Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, people noticed.

The Blue Jays played at Yankee Stadium for the first time this year on Wednesday night. It’s the only park in the majors where “God Bless America” has been played every game since the Sept. 11 attacks.

There were brief chants of “USA! USA!” when he lined out in the top of the seventh. During a moment of silence before “God Bless America” was played during the seventh-inning stretch, derisive shouts were made in his direction.

Delgado left the dugout when the last out was made in the top of the seventh and was removed from the game with Toronto trailing, 10-3.

In fact, until the first baseman spoke about the issue in early July to the Toronto Star, many people were not aware of how he felt.

“It’s a very terrible thing that happened on Sept. 11. It’s [also] a terrible thing that happened in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Delgado said at the time. “I just feel so sad for the families that lost relatives and loved ones in the war. But I think it’s the stupidest war ever.”

Delgado declined to elaborate before Wednesday night’s game, though he said he stood by his previous remarks.

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The Boston Red Sox obtained infielder Ricky Gutierrez from the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named or cash. Earlier, Boston put infielder Pokey Reese on the disabled list because of a strained ribcage.

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San Diego lifted the suspension of overall No. 1 draft pick Matt Bush, who was arrested last month and accused of assaulting a bouncer removing him from a bar.