Fansided

Top 25 MLB stories of 2017, from Aaron Judge to Houston Strong

By Joshua Sadlock

HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 03: Marwin Gonzalez #9 of the Houston Astros and Alex Bregman #2 hold the World Series Trophy during the Houston Astros Victory Parade on November 3, 2017 in Houston, Texas. The Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7 to win the 2017 World Series. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 03: Marwin Gonzalez #9 of the Houston Astros and Alex Bregman #2 hold the World Series Trophy during the Houston Astros Victory Parade on November 3, 2017 in Houston, Texas. The Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7 to win the 2017 World Series. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 26: Bruce Maxwell #13 of the Oakland Athletics kneels in protest next to teammate Mark Canha #20 duing the singing of the National Anthem prior to the start of the game against the Seattle Mariners at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 26, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 26: Bruce Maxwell #13 of the Oakland Athletics kneels in protest next to teammate Mark Canha #20 duing the singing of the National Anthem prior to the start of the game against the Seattle Mariners at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 26, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

16. Bruce Maxwell takes a knee

Up until September 23, the protests during the National Anthem had been limited entirely to the NFL. In the wake of controversial statements by President Donald Trump, Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell became the first baseball player to publicly protest by taking a knee during the Anthem. It took guts for Maxwell, whose father served as an officer in the Army, to protest given his status as a light-hitting rookie.

The A’s expressed their full support of Maxwell, but the backlash came from all sides.

Despite the fairly muted response to his protest, Maxwell was not joined by any of his MLB brethren. The protests have continued in the NFL, but have not gained any traction in baseball. That does make some sense with an ever-shrinking percentage of African American players in the league’s ranks.

Regardless of which side you come down on in the raging debate over the Anthem protests, there has to be a level of respect for Maxwell sticking his neck out to make a statement about something he believes in strongly. He is a career. 251/.331/.354 hitter and totally replaceable in the grand scheme of professional baseball.

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