Pitch Invaders: Animals Stealing the Spotlight at Baseball Games

When we head out to see a baseball game, we expect to see two teams of nine players. One thing that we don’t expect to see is non-human counterparts invading the field and stealing the limelight! However, animal pitch invaders do provide both us and players with a constant source of entertainment. So, let’s take a look back through some of our most notable four legged friends making their way out to try their hand at a little baseball!

The Black Cat

Let’s start with one of the original pitch invaders – the black cat! Back in 1969, a black cat made his or her way onto the pitch of a Cubs vs. Mets game at the Shea Stadium. The game was on its fourth inning, and the Mets were up 2-0. However, the cat gave the Cubs manager are slow glare before disappearing under the bleachers. Players have since noted that the cat had an ominous feel and they weren’t all too surprised when the Mets won, causing the Cubs to fail to make the playoffs. The black cat went to show that no matter how organised a team may be, how focused they may be, or how much time they spend mulling over their batting order on their personalized lineup cards, the simple presence of a furry feline friend can really throw things into disarray!

The Giant Rat

One of the most replayed shots of any baseball game is the moment that Red Sox player Carlton Fisk plays his twelth inning home run against the Cincinnati Reds. During the scene, he jumps significantly, at the same time that most of the members of the audience behind him jump. The cause? A rat that was supposedly “big as a cat”. At this time, cameramen didn’t film players’ reactions. Instead, they would film full-on action for people watching at home. So this reaction was a real first!

The Squirrel

While the black cat only appeared once, the squirrel has made multiple appearances at baseball games. First showing up on October 4th 2011, the squirrel ran across the field and home plate at Busch stadium during a National League Division Series game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals. The squirrel appeared again on October 5th, causing confusion but not interrupting game play. Running across the home plate as Roy Oswalt attempted to deliver a pitch to Skip Schumaker, the umpire called a pitch ball. Oswalt and his manager attempted to claim that he was distracted by the squirrel and thus “no pitch” should be called – but to no avail. Nevertheless, the Cardinals went on to win and the “Rally Squirrel” has since been taken on as a lucky mascot by the team’s fans.

There have, of course, been more rogue animals making their way onto the field during baseball games. But for now, we’ve highlighted some of the most notable and beloved!