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Preston Wilson apologized Saturday for a reference he made to slavery during the television broadcast of the Houston Astros' game against the Cleveland Indians earlier in the day.

Wilson, who played 10 years in the major leagues, was working the game for the Astros' television affiliate, AT&T SportsNet Southwest. He brought up slavery during a discussion with fellow ex-player Jeff Bagwell and color commentator Geoff Blum about which pitches were the most difficult to hit.

"I don't know how you guys feel about this, Blummer and Baggy, but for me, it was the slider," Wilson said in the bottom of the first inning. "I can take the fastball. But I actually had somebody ask me if I could go back in history and change one thing, I skipped right over slavery and went to the slider. That's how I feel about it."

According to  the 43-year-old then added: "I realized that was selfish, so then after I thought about it, I was like, you know what, maybe I should change what I said, but that's how hard it is to hit a slider in the big leagues."

Wilson, who is black, apologized on social media Saturday night.

"Earlier today I made a comment that may have offended people and for that I am sorry," he wrote on Twitter. "What I said was inappropriate and not a reflection of the Houston Astros nor AT&T SportsNet."

An Astros spokesperson did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment on Wilson's remark.

Reach Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.

You're wearing that? Ugliest MLB uniforms in history

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Arizona Diamondbacks have a short and questionable
Arizona Diamondbacks have a short and questionable history with sartorial selection, especially their most recent coal-mining gray road uniforms. Almost makes you long for the expansion days sleeveless jerseys and purple pinstripes.  Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports
Respect the rainbow? The Houston Astros uniforms of
Respect the rainbow? The Houston Astros uniforms of the 1970s have aged better than others from that era, but they're still dated.  Ed Kolenovsky, AP
There's nothing quite like the purple-blue-green-yellow
There's nothing quite like the purple-blue-green-yellow rainbow logo of the 1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  Steve Nesius, AP
It's a good thing the Seattle Pilots only lasted one
It's a good thing the Seattle Pilots only lasted one season and their uniforms only occasionally reappear on 'Turn Back the Clock' days.  John Froschauer, AP
Remember that terrible 'Turn Ahead the Clock' promotion
Remember that terrible 'Turn Ahead the Clock' promotion from 1999? Unfortunately, we all do. At least none of those uniforms accurately predicted the future. Case in point: the Pittsburgh Pirates ...  Osamu Honda, AP
the Minnesota Twins ...
the Minnesota Twins ...  Tom Olmscheid, AP
the then-Florida Marlins ...
the then-Florida Marlins ...  Amy E. Conn, AP
And who can forget the Seattle Mariners-Kansas City
And who can forget the Seattle Mariners-Kansas City Royals game in 1998 that started it all.  Joe Brockert, AP
Not even Hammerin' Hank Aaron could make these Atlanta
Not even Hammerin' Hank Aaron could make these Atlanta Braves uniforms Hall of Fame caliber.  AP
The wings just never worked on these Anaheim Angels
The wings just never worked on these Anaheim Angels uniforms.  Fred Jewell, AP
These 1978 San Diego Padres uniforms show what happens
These 1978 San Diego Padres uniforms show what happens when an owner tries to outfit a team based on the colors of a fast-food joint.  Michael Zagaris, MLB Photos via Getty Images
So why would the Tampa Bay Rays replicate that style
So why would the Tampa Bay Rays replicate that style in their color scheme for faux throwback a 2012?  Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports
Baltimore Orioles celebrated their 1970 World Series
Baltimore Orioles celebrated their 1970 World Series by adding an all-orange alternate uniform in 1971 ...  John Iacono, Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
But early 1970s success was no reason to bring back
But early 1970s success was no reason to bring back look in 2010.  Chris O'Meara, AP
There was even less reason to bring back these 1975
There was even less reason to bring back these 1975 uniforms for Cleveland Indians, who were under .500 that season.  Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports
Wide collars, pijamas-style jersey. This Chicago White
Wide collars, pijamas-style jersey. This Chicago White Sox uniform screams 1970s.  Courtesy of the Jerry Hairston family
The 1976 version with the shorts were uniforms only
The 1976 version with the shorts were uniforms only White Sox owner Bill Veeck could love.  AP
And then there's the beer-league softball look from
And then there's the beer-league softball look from 1983.  AP
The Oakland Athletics of the 1960s and early 1970s
The Oakland Athletics of the 1960s and early 1970s had all manner of yellow-and-green combinations.  Focus On Sport, Getty Images
The "We Are Family" 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates had an
The "We Are Family" 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates had an extended family of black-and-yellow combinations.  Focus on Sport/Getty Images
It doesn't get any more plain than the 1986 San Francisco
It doesn't get any more plain than the 1986 San Francisco Giants.  Jeff Reinking, AP
Black-and-white photography doesn't do these 1978 Chicago
Black-and-white photography doesn't do these 1978 Chicago Cubs uniforms justice. Just imagine powder blue with white pinstripes.  Wally Fong, AP
Speaking of powder blue ... 1986 Montreal Expos ...
Speaking of powder blue ... 1986 Montreal Expos ...  Rick Stewart, Getty Images
1987 Philadelphia Phillies ...
1987 Philadelphia Phillies ...  Stephen Dunn, Getty Images
1986 Milwaukee Brewers ...
1986 Milwaukee Brewers ...  David Liam Kyle
and the 1982 replica St. Louis Cardinals.
and the 1982 replica St. Louis Cardinals.  Dan Currier, AP
Any time you frown at the team's latest orange jerseys,
Any time you frown at the team's latest orange jerseys, just remember the original 1993 Florida Marlins look.  Charles Krupa, AP

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