Longtime MLB Vet Rebukes Gavin Newsom Over SAT Remarks

Veteran MLB outfielder Tommy Pham had harsh words for California Governor Gavin Newsom after he used his lackluster SAT scores to compare himself to black Americans.

Newsom madę the comments in question while appearing with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens during a book promotion event in Atlanta on February 23. The governor was in attendance as part of an ongoing national tour for his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry, which has widely been viewed by political analysts as part of his rollout for a presidential campaign in 2028.

While speaking with a crowd of predominantly black attendees, Newsom reflected on his own experiences with dyslexia. “I’m not trying to impress you, I’m just trying to impress upon you, ‘I’m like you. I’m not better than you.’ I’m a 960 SAT guy,” he said.

“And I’m not trying to offend anyone. I’m not trying to act all there if you got 940 … You’ve never seen me read a speech because I cannot read a speech,” the governor added.

A 960 SAT score falls below the national average on the test, which is scored out of 1600. Newsom has previously discussed his dyslexia in public settings, including interviews and other appearances, noting it affected his reading speed and academic performance.

Pham, a 12-year MLB veteran who is currently a free agent, indicated that Newsom’s comments were racist and condescending towards the black community in a social media post. In a recent Instagram story, Pham clipped the exchange alongside the caption: “I can’t relate… I was a straight A student and scored well on my SAT he thinks black ppl are dumb.”

In a follow-up Instagram Story, Pham also shared a separate clip in which Newsom described reading a 260-page book in an hour and a half during a podcast appearance, highlighting a contrast in the governor’s statements about his reading abilities.

Photo: @tphamlv via Instagram

Several commentators and elected officials described Newsom’s comments as patronizing or indicative of low expectations directed toward black Americans. Rapper Nicki Minaj wrote that Newsom’s approach to bonding involved “telling them how stupid he is & that he can’t read,” and suggested it implied assumptions about the audience’s comprehension.

Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) responded that “Black Americans aren’t your low bar” while pointing to achievements in business, politics and other fields.

The governor responded by attempting to turn accusations of racism back around on President Donald Trump and his supporters. A spokesperson for Newsom, Izzy Gardon, told media outlets that the backlash represented “MAGA-manufactured outrage.” Gardon noted that Newsom has discussed his SAT scores and dyslexia publicly for years, including during appearances with the late Charlie Kirk and other audiences.

Mayor Dickens also defended the exchange on Instagram, describing it as “a moment of vulnerability about his own journey” rather than an attack on anyone.

RELATED: Ex-MLB Star Convicted In Illegal Sports Betting Case