Manny Piña

These two MLB players wouldn't sit even after the national anthem

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:55 p.m. ET

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Chris Bahr

There has been an enormous amount of attention paid to the athletes who have chosen not to stand for the national anthem in recent weeks. But how about two athletes who refuse to sit?

That was the case before Tuesday night’s Brewers-Reds game at Great American Ball Park. Milwaukee’s Manny Pina and Cincinnati’s Hernan Iribarren staged a classic standoff following the anthem, with neither willing to budge.

Ultimately, Pina blinked first, walking back to the dugout at the urging of the home-plate umpire. According to the broadcast, the players stood there for about 13 minutes. Incredible.

"I'd never done it," Iribarren said, according to MLB.com. "I've seen some on TV and as soon as the anthem was over, I stood out for a second and then I saw to the other side and it happened to be a friend from my hometown and he just stood there and looked at me [and] moved his shoulder like, 'Well, if we stand, we stand.' I was like, 'OK, I'm going to stay.' And I got the guys behind me telling me, 'Don't move, don't move, don't move, if you're going to stay there, you've got to win.' So, I just kind of stood there."

The Reds won the standoff and the game, 6-4.

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Manny Piña

Cincinnati Reds

Major League Baseball