Mickey Callaway, the Los Angeles Angels pitching coach and former New York Mets coach, reportedly sent obscene messages and photos to several sports reporters, The Athletic reported on Monday.
Five women, who spoke to the sports news site on condition of anonymity, said that Callaway’s actions lasted five years in various cities and teams, including his stint as pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.
According to The Athletic, the women said that Callaway commented on her appearances and acted inappropriately during the interviews. One accused him of pushing his groin close to her face while she tried to interview him. Another said that Callaway offered to share information about the Mets with her if she got drunk with him. Several women told The Athletic that they also received unsolicited shirtless selfies from him.
NBC News was unable to verify the allegations independently or contact Callaway for comment.
In an email to The Athletic, he wrote: “Instead of rushing to respond to these general allegations of which I have just been informed, I look forward to an opportunity to provide more specific answers.”
“Any relationship in which I have been involved is consensual and my conduct is not intended to be disrespectful to the women involved. I am married and my wife has been informed of these general charges, ”he said.
In a statement late on Monday, Angels spokeswoman Marie Garvey wrote: “The reported behavior violates the Angels Organization’s values and policies. We take this very seriously and will conduct a full investigation with the MLB. “
Mets owner Steve Cohen told NBC News in an email on Tuesday that the “conduct reported in The Athletic’s history today is completely unacceptable and would never be tolerated under my ownership”.
Team president Sandy Alderson said in the same statement that he was “shocked” by the actions of the former team coach.
“I was unaware of the conduct described in the story at the time of hiring Mickey or at any time during my tenure as general manager,” he said. “We have already started a review of our hiring processes to ensure the evaluation of new employees is more complete and comprehensive. “
The Indians said in a statement late Monday that the team was also unaware of the allegations about Callaway’s behavior prior to the publication of The Athletic’s story, NBC affiliate WKYC reported.
“We are currently reviewing the matter internally and in consultation with the Major Baseball League to determine the appropriate next steps,” said the team, according to the season. “Our organization unequivocally does not tolerate this type of behavior.”
In The Athletic’s report, an accuser described Callaway as “the sport’s worst-kept secret”. Two said they had been warned about their behavior by other reporters. Seven more women “who worked in various MLB markets” said they were warned about their inappropriate behavior. behavior, but were never addressed by Callaway, according to the report.
The latest allegations came less than two weeks after Mets fired general manager Jared Porter after an ESPN report on unsolicited texts he allegedly sent to a reporter. The network said Porter was working with the Chicago Cubs when sexually explicit messages were sent.
ESPN, which said it had revised texts, reported that Porter apologized to the woman in 2016 for a message after she saw a nude photo and sent a message saying her messages were “extremely inappropriate, very offensive and out of line”.
Alderson hired Porter and Callaway. Callaway joined the Mets as a manager for two tumultuous seasons before being fired in October 2019, NBC New York reported. He joined the Angels as a pitching coach last season.
After Callaway was closed, Alderson said during a videoconference that Porter was scrutinized before he was hired, praising his work with Mets, The Athletic reported. Alderson said the Mets did not consult with any women during the hiring process.
One of the accusers told The Athletic that Callaway’s reputation preceded him.
“If they are examining you, even an ounce of your personal life should reveal that,” she said.
