NEW YORK (JTA) — Free agent outfielder-DH Delmon Young pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges related to an incident in New York in which he yelled anti-Semitic slurs.
Young, 27, who played this season with the American League champion Detroit Tigers, was sentenced Wednesday in Manhattan Criminal Court to 10 days of community service on a charge of aggravated harassment in the second degree. He also must participate in a mandatory restorative justice program run by the Museum of Tolerance in New York.
The incident took place April 27 at the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan shortly before the Tigers began a series against the Yankees.
According to reports, a group of tourists staying at the hotel were approached by a panhandler wearing a yarmulke and Young yelled anti-Semitic epithets at the group. Young also reportedly shoved one of the men, who sustained minor injuries.
Young was suspended without pay for seven days, amounting to a loss of more than $250,000.
On May 5, he apologized for what he called a "lapse in judgment," adding that "I just want to let everybody know that I’m not anti-Semitic. I wasn’t raised that way, came from a good family and we weren’t taught any of that, especially growing up in a diverse area."
In October, Young registered 15 hits and slammed three home runs during the Tigers’ playoff run, which ended with a World Series sweep at the hands of the San Fransisco Giants.
