Cubs ownership, MLB respond to Joe Ricketts' 'racially insensitive' emails leaked
Major League Baseball reacted quickly Tuesday to racist and Islamaphobic emails sent and received by Joe Ricketts, patriarch of the family that owns the Chicago Cubs.
The emails were revealed Monday by SplinterNews.com.
"We are aware of the email exchanges involving Joe Ricketts," the MLB statement reads. "While many of the emails were not written by Mr. Ricketts, the content is extremely offensive and completely at odds with the values and principles of Major League Baseball. Providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone is extremely important for MLB and our 30 clubs."
Joe Ricketts helped to bankroll his family's purchase of the Cubs from the Tribune Co. in 2009. Ricketts four children, headed by chairman Tom Ricketts, run the baseball team, and a statement Monday from Tom Ricketts stressed that Joe Ricketts is not involved in the operation of the Cubs.
The emails published by SplinterNews.com reveal Ricketts expressing fear and distrust of Muslims and engaging of talk of the "birther" conspiracy about whether former President Barack Obama was born in the United States.
Joe Ricketts and Tom Ricketts each issued statements late Monday as the emails became public.
"I deeply regret and apologize for some of the exchanges I had in my emails,'' Joe Ricketts' statement read. "'Sometimes I received emails that I should have condemned. Other times I've said things that don't reflect my value system. I strongly believe that bigoted ideas are wrong."
Tom Ricketts added his own statement: "My father is not involved with the operation of the Chicago Cubs in any way. I am trusted with representing this organization and our fans with respect for people from all backgrounds. These emails do not reflect the culture we've worked so hard to build at the Chicago Cubs since 2009."
Tom Ricketts has kept his politics close to the vest. Tom's brother, Pete, is the Republican governor of Nebraska. Another brother, Todd Ricketts, is active in Republican politics. Sister Laura Ricketts was an active supporter of Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate for president in 2016.
The four Ricketts family members serve on the Cubs' board.
According to Julian Green, the Cubs' vice president of communications and community affairs, the Cubs have reached out to Chicago's Muslim community, but Green added the Cubs are not ready to disclose information about a possible meeting.
The Ricketts family drew criticism from fans and media last month when the board members did not appear before fans at the team's annual convention. It has been a convention tradition since the family took over ownership of the Cubs that the board members would take questions from fans in a ballroom setting.
This year, the family said they did not appear before fans in the question-and-answer format because the session had been "low rated" in surveys sent to convention attendees.