Pirates manager Derek Shelton stands behind a kneeling Jarrod Dyson before season opener

As Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals players held black fabric during the national anthem as a symbol of their unity in combating racial and social injustice, Jarrod Dyson took a knee and bowed his head.

Before his MLB debut as Pirates manager, Derek Shelton showed support for his starting center fielder by moving to stand next to the 35-year-old Black man from Mississippi on Opening Day.

As Pirates and Cardinals players hold black fabric as a symbol of unity during national anthem, Pirates center fielder Jarrod Dyson takes a knee and manager Derek Shelton moves to stand behind him before season opener at Busch Stadium. pic.twitter.com/Wdy3jkAkKb

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) July 24, 2020

Afterward, player and manager embraced.

“It meant a lot to me,” Dyson said after the 5-4 loss. “We’re searching for change in this world and equal opportunities and justice. It just meant a lot. I’m behind my community 110%, and we’re just searching for change in this world. It was good getting everybody behind me and encouraging me to do what I did. I feel great about it.

“It just means a lot. Your manager behind you 100%, that’s a lot. I give everything I’ve got when I’m out there taking the field for him, and for him to back me up like that, that’s a special moment for me.”

It was evidence of a message of unity that Shelton shared hours before the game, that he wants to go beyond symbolic gestures and make meaningful change.

United.#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/Lw83E0m4Az

— Pirates (@Pirates) July 25, 2020

Shelton said he was aware beforehand that Dyson would kneel and wanted to show support.

“I think the most important statements that happen are how our players act and what they say not only (Friday) but publicly and moving forward, and that’s why I’ve been really happy with our group and how they’ve been not only on social media but how they’ve been outwardly in the community,” Shelton said. “That’s the most important statement.

“The most important statement isn’t something we do opening night or we do (Saturday). It’s how we continue to live, how we continue to grow, how we continue to educate ourselves. So a one-night statement, it carries weight, but what we do moving forward as an organization and as a team, I think, is the most important thing.”

Use your platform.

Make a difference.#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/QZvYS2vztC

— Pirates (@Pirates) July 24, 2020

Before the game, the Pirates posted a photo on Twitter unveiling Black Lives Matter banners and an inverted MLB logo, with the silhouetted batter in black, hanging from the left-field rotunda at PNC Park.

Warmin' up in The Lou.#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/UHNjHOA4tb

— Pirates (@Pirates) July 24, 2020

For batting practice, the Pirates wore black T-shirts celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues — with the phrase, THEY PLAYED FOR US SO WE CAN across the back — and Black Lives Matter.

“It was just a sign of unity,” said Pirates right-hander Trevor Williams, who will pitch Saturday against the Cardinals. “What guys have been doing for the anthem has been a sign of unity between (those in) the Players Association. That’s a statement that we’re making — (being) unified — that we’re ready to take. I’m glad that MLB and sports have kind of taken the reins off of the ‘stick to sports’ narrative. People are using their platforms to speak out. I think it’s awesome to see guys take control of their platform and take control of what they want to change.”

For the opening introductions, the Pirates lined up along the third-base line, with Shelton introduced first followed by his coaching staff and every player, in numerical order. Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty wore a Black Lives Matter shirt while warming up.

Both teams observed a moment of silence, followed by a “Be the Change” video that was introduced as a “special player alliance video and a player-led effort to show their solidarity” featuring MLB stars that addressed the 8 minutes, 46 seconds Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on the neck of George Floyd and killed the Black man.

Players took their hats off as a recorded message narrated by actor Morgan Freeman was played: “Equality and unity cannot be until there is empathy. Today and every day, we come together as equals, all with the same goal. To level the playing field, to change the injustices. Equality is not just a word. It’s our right. Today we stand as men from 25 nations, on six continents. Today we are one.”

Shelton said during the pregame show on AT&T SportsNet that the Pirates have talked to players about making sure they are educated, thoughtful and purposeful with their words and actions.

“We have some tremendous leaders that I’m really happy with what their voice has been,” Shelton said. “I think we have to continue to learn, we have to continue to grow and we have to continue to try to make the world a better place by educating ourselves.”