MLB

Big props from Big Papi ... who says Derek Jeter's jersey retirement ceremony at Yankee Stadium this weekend was so incredible, he hopes to have one just like it at Fenway Park.

David Ortiz was out in NYC when he told us #2's ceremony was "perfect" -- adding, "He deserve it, man."

We also asked the Red Sox legend if Jeter will go down as the greatest Yankee of all time. Papi seemed to sign off on that.

And if baseball's not your thing -- Ortiz also gave us some recommendations on the Dominican food we HAVE to try.

Alex Rodriguez was in NYC doing dinner with Jennifer Lopez ... while most of his old Yankees teammates were at Yankee Stadium honoring Derek Jeter.

A-Rod and J Lo stepped out Sunday evening heading to Nobu. They were dressed to the nines, but make no mistake ... this is a bad look for Alex.

Yankee greats gathered at the Stadium where Jeter's number 2 was retired. Alex was invited, but his publicist had said he wouldn't be able to make it because he was going to be in Miami celebrating Mother's Day.

The photo shows he was really just ... oh, about 8 miles south of Derek. We've reached out A-Rod's rep, but no word back yet.

First time in history choosing J Lo backfires?

7:30 AM PT -- A-Rod was indeed in Miami on Sunday. His rep says he spent the morning with family, including Mom. We're told he arrived in NYC after 6 PM -- he has to work there Monday -- and went straight to Jennifer's for the dinner.

For what it's worth ... the Jeter event went down around 7 PM.

How's this for maturity?!?

Casper Smart tells TMZ Sports there's ZERO jealousy or animosity or bitterness at Alex Rodriguez for dating his ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez ... and actually praised A-Rod as a "legend."

Of course, Casper and J Lo dated for years before finally calling it quits in 2016. She's now dating A-Rod ... and it appears he has Casper's full blessing.

In fact, Casper says he's only heard great things about the ex-Yankees star and says when it comes to his feelings toward the baseball player -- "It's all respect and love."

Pittsburgh Pirates superstar Andrew McCutchen says his experience in Boston was simply different than Adam Jones -- telling TMZ Sports he was NOT showered with racial taunts.

In fact, Andrew -- one of the 62 black players in the MLB -- says the fans at Fenway Park were actually really cool with him when the Pirates went to Beantown earlier this season.

Charles Barkley says he's very disappointed in the people AROUND the racist fan who hurled the N-word at Adam Jones ... saying he if saw anyone being racist, "I would put an end to that sh*t."

Barkley was out in NYC when we asked about the situation in Boston -- where a fan at Fenway Park hurled racial taunts at the Baltimore Orioles star.

"It should never happen," Barkley says ... "but I'm disappointed in the fans who were around those people saying those things."

Barkley essentially says it's up to others to stand up for what's right -- and that's what he would do.

By the way, this is just the beginning of Barkley's foray into racial issues -- he's launching a new show on TNT called "American Race" later this month ... and he's not holding back.

In fact, Barkley gave us a teaser and said one of the issues he's most passionate about is the mistreatment of Muslims in the United States.

Michael Rapaport says the scumbag who hurled racist taunts at Orioles star Adam Jones should be banned from all MLB games for life ... period.

Rapaport is really pissed off about the situation -- with Jones claiming Red Sox fans yelled the n-word at him during the Monday night game at Fenway Park.

Rap -- a huge Yankees fan -- said the fans behind the taunts are disgusting and should never step foot inside an MLB stadium ever again.

We also spoke with Judd Nelson who's also upset -- and says he's shocked the other people in the stands didn't "take care of that guy."

Translation -- non-racists shoulda beat the racist's ass.

For what it's worth, Jones received a very warm ovation from the fans in Beantown before his first at-bat Tuesday night. Pretty awesome.

Yes, you read that right ... Jay Z is getting sued for slapping the logo for "ROC NATION" -- his company -- on a bunch of Major League Baseball apparel.

Sounds bizarre, but Iconix Brand Group says Jay does NOT own the logo anymore. In docs obtained by TMZ, Iconix says it paid a whopping $204 million for it, and therefore has control over where the logo pops up ... especially when it comes to merchandise.

Iconix has beef with the ROC logo appearing on MLB hats, shirts, hoodies, etc -- a deal it says it never approved. It's not only suing Jay, but also MLB, Roc Nation, New Era, Lids and the San Francisco Giants.

The company is suing all of the above for at least $10 million and other damages. We've reached out to Jay Z, so far no word back.

Iconix also owns and manages the Ed Hardy, Joe Boxer and Marc Ecko logos.

Country music star Brett Kissel says he's lucky fans bailed him out after a mic fail kept him from singing the National Anthem at the Edmonton Oilers game Sunday ... admitting, "I didn't have a Plan B!"

The video is incredible ... fans at the Oilers vs. Anaheim Ducks playoff game noticed Kissel's technical difficulties and decided to take over the singing duties for both country's anthems.

Kissel admits it was a huge sigh of relief to hear the makeshift choir pick up from the top ... and says he's already talking to the Oilers about getting a redo before game 4 on Wednesday.

Hope ex-MLB pitcher Tim Hudson doesn't have dreams of watching his son strike out major leaguers like he used to, cause his wife made it clear to TMZ Sports, SHE AIN'T HAVING IT.

Tim and the fam were out at The Ivy when we asked the brood if there were any future baseball players in the bunch ... to which Tim said yes, and pointed to his son, 12-year-old Kade.

Hudson told us Kade was a catcher for now and wasn't pitching "yet," and that's when wife Kim jumped in and said "yet" is a day that will NEVER come, 'cause she can't go through loving another hurler.

Joe Mixon has found an NFL home.

The Cincinnati Bengals selected the ex-Oklahoma star in the 2nd round of the Draft Friday night -- 48th overall -- despite the running back's troubled past.

Mixon wasn't invited to the NFL combine after video was released showing him brutalizing a female student back in 2014 ... but many experts predicted he could be picked as high as the 2nd round, or fall off the board completely.

Mixon and the female student met privately last week and settled her lawsuit she had filed against him, both agreeing to move past the situation.

Don't pop the champagne just yet ... Jeb Bush tells TMZ Sports he and Derek Jeter haven't officially closed the deal to buy the Miami Marlins -- though he seems confident.

Here's Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais making good on a challenge to his players ... and making a case for coolest MLB manager around.

Servais told his guys that if they scored 10 or more runs against the Oakland A's he would reward them by sportin' a swagged out travel outfit -- complete with some of the players' chains.

The Mariners went out and won the game 11-1 ... and Scott proved he's a man of his word, donning some very swagged out neck decoration.

Joe Torre says he truly believes Derek Jeter will an incredible MLB owner -- but he's adamant he WON'T take a job managing #2's team if he calls.

The ex-NY Yankees manager was hosting an event for the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation -- which helps kids exposed to domestic violence at home -- when we talked about Jeter's bid to buy the Miami Marlins.

It's clear Jeter has Torre's full support -- with Joe calling him a "class act."

When asked if he thinks Jeter has any desire to be an owner/manager -- Joe shot that down saying, "I don't think he wants to put the uniform on."

Jackie Robinson's wife and children are among the special guests committed to attend the statue ceremony at Dodger Stadium this weekend honoring the MLB legend ... the team says.

Rachel Robinson, along with Jackie's daughter, Sharon, and son, David, will be front and center on Saturday ... the 70th anniversary of Robinson breaking MLB’s color barrier on April 15, 1947.

The 10 foot tall bronze statue will be the very first one installed at Dodger Stadium. The first 40,000 fans will receive a smaller replica.

Several Dodgers legends will also be in attendance including Vin Scully, Tommy Lasorda, Sandy Koufax, Don Newcombe and Dodgers owner Magic Johnson.

NY Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda was on the verge of throwing a no-hitter Monday ... until Martha Stewart ruined it.

Former MLB star Otis Nixon -- who played 17 years in the big leagues -- has gone missing, cops say ... and officials are hoping the public can help find him.

The 58-year-old was last seen leaving his home in Woodstock, Georgia in a 2011 gray Range Rover to play golf ... but never got to the course.

Officials are clearly concerned and have asked anyone with information to call police immediately.

Nixon has a troubled past ... including a cocaine arrest back in 2013 and a very bizarre incident in 2015 when cops say he let a 16-year-old drive a rental car taken out in his name that had weed inside.