Listen to the article
Red Sox rookie pitcher Hunter Dobbins found himself in an unexpected controversy this week after claims about his father’s baseball career were called into question by a New York Post investigation.
The unusual situation began when Dobbins made headlines for expressing his strong dislike of the Yankees organization before his recent start against the team. During those comments to the Boston Herald, Dobbins mentioned that his father, Lance, had been drafted twice by the Yankees before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and was reportedly friends with former Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte.
However, New York Post columnist Joel Sherman investigated these claims and found no evidence supporting Dobbins’ story about his father’s Yankees connection. On Wednesday at Fenway Park, the 25-year-old pitcher addressed the controversy before the Red Sox’s finale against the Tampa Bay Rays.
“The whole backstory, it was stuff I heard growing up, seeing pictures from my dad,” Dobbins explained. “At the end of the day, I don’t fact-check my dad or anything like that.”
According to Sherman’s reporting, there are no records of Lance Dobbins ever being drafted by or playing for the Yankees. Yankees GM Brian Cashman, who has been with the organization since the late 1980s, told the Post he had no recollection of the team drafting Lance Dobbins, and searches through the team’s amateur department revealed no such records.
When Sherman contacted Andy Pettitte about the purported friendship, the former Yankees pitcher said neither he nor his family remembered Lance Dobbins. Further investigation revealed that former Diamondbacks executives also had no memory of Dobbins with their franchise, which didn’t even begin play until 1998.
Baseball Reference does have a page for Lance Dobbins, but it only shows him pitching for two independent league teams in the mid-1990s: the Meridian Brakemen of the Big South League and the Ohio Valley Redcoats of the Frontier League. His current professional profile as a pitching coach mentions work as a scout for the Tampa Bay Rays, but contains no references to the Yankees or Diamondbacks.
Despite the controversy, the younger Dobbins appears unfazed by the media attention and said he hasn’t yet discussed the matter with his father. His focus, he said, is on his upcoming start against the Yankees this Saturday at Fenway Park.
“My whole focus is on Saturday; my first time in the big leagues facing a team for a second time, let alone back to back,” Dobbins said. “I imagine [my dad and I will] talk in the future. It’s been made a bigger deal than it needs to be.”
When asked about his original comments regarding his dislike of the Yankees, Dobbins, a native Texan who grew up as a Red Sox fan, clarified that his feelings are personal and not family-related. “My feelings are based off my personal feelings. Nothing to do with growing up or family. It’s a rivalry and we’re just having fun.”
Before his start against New York last Sunday, Dobbins had told reporters he would retire before wearing pinstripes, even if the Yankees were the last team to offer him a contract.
The situation has added an unusual chapter to the storied Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, which typically plays out on the field rather than through family histories. Dobbins seems to view the incident as simply adding more intrigue to the historic baseball feud.
“It doesn’t bother me. I love working with the media and everybody here. Everybody has been great. My focus is performing for the guys here, in the locker room and the fans of Boston,” he said. “Something that’s a few hours away, it doesn’t faze me.”
Dobbins will have his opportunity to let his pitching do the talking when he faces the Yankees again this Saturday, in what will now be a start carrying additional narrative weight beyond the typical rivalry matchup.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
7 Comments
I appreciate Dobbins owning up to the mistake instead of doubling down. Admitting when you get the facts wrong is the mature way to handle these situations. Hopefully this doesn’t become a distraction as he continues his rookie season with the Red Sox.
Interesting story. It’s understandable that players might get carried away with family lore, but it’s important to verify facts, especially when making claims about an opposing team. I wonder if this will impact Dobbins’ relationship with the Yankees going forward.
You make a good point. It’s easy for stories to get embellished over time, but players need to be careful about making unsubstantiated claims, especially involving rival organizations.
This is an unusual situation, but it’s a good lesson for all athletes to be careful about the personal details they share publicly. Even if it’s something you’ve heard your whole life, it’s always wise to confirm the facts before making claims, especially about rival teams. Dobbins handled it well by acknowledging the error.
This situation highlights the importance of fact-checking, even for personal family stories. While the backstory may have been meaningful to Dobbins, making unsupported claims can backfire. It will be interesting to see how he and the Red Sox handle the fallout.
Agreed. Dobbins should have verified the details before going public. Unsubstantiated claims, even if well-intentioned, can damage credibility. Hopefully he learns from this experience.
While it’s understandable that Dobbins trusted his father’s stories, this case highlights the need for players to verify information, especially when it involves rival organizations. Making unsubstantiated claims, even if unintentional, can backfire and become a distraction. Kudos to Dobbins for owning up to the mistake.