In 2011, the St. Louis Cardinals glorious post-season run featured some pretty unusual things. A "HAPPY FLIGHT CHANT!", a late inning comeback in what is still one of the most entertaining World Series games I've ever known, and even a call to the wild. In the NLDS a squirrel interrupted a game with the Phillies, scampering across home plate and up into the stands like Ron Artest, capturing Busch Stadium's attention. Consequently, the "Rally Squirrel" legend was born. An extra light-hearted feel good story that fans can live on to tell about in the future.
The other night (5/4/15) during the Cardinals vs. Cubs game on ESPN a fan got a little squirrely himself during a game-long Cardinals comeback that some believed provided spark for St. Louis to complete the turn around. Whether it was the true inspiration the Redbirds needed or not, it happened somewhat in vein. While the fans in the stands rooted on the field-runner Monday night, fans at home got to enjoy a view of the press box and ESPN's commentary crew. Still, the video went viral and the world got to view the fan who out ran security like Eric Dickerson and finished it off with the white-boy version of an Ozzie Smith flip, (A.k.a. the somersault).
While some found the somersault entertaining, others found it to be offensive. The majority of the crowd may have gotten behind the fans actions on Monday but there were plenty of people who didn't approve of the game's interruption and had no problem expressing their displeasure on social media sites, even other V.E.B. posts. While the game's interruption was un-necessary and purist can argue that it is bad for baseball, it should be noted that the runner faces a fair punishment for their ill-gotten fame.
Don't hate the runner, he has his own hell waiting for him. On top of getting deservedly tackled by stadium security and escorted off the field in hand-cuffs or police custody, a field-runner has to go through their own justification process that can be a lengthy ordeal. First you're arrested, then the accuser will first be (in most cases) banned for life from the stadium then taken downtown to be searched, processed and charged. Usually during the processing period the accuser will spend their duration in the drunk tank, which is usually fitting among most accusers. Once processed they are given a court date (sometimes advising a legal counsel be obtained) to appeal for and by the end of it have nothing but their short-lived fame, usually ending with additional punishments like community service from the research I've gathered. So before you think about scrutinizing the field-runner or becoming one yourself, seriously ask yourself... "Would it be worth it?"
Maybe that fan just wanted fifteen seconds of fame. Can you really blame him? Maybe he just had a few too many drinks in his system and wanted to see how soft the field was? Maybe he's not much of a baseball fan and didn't care about the punishments he would face. Maybe he was relieving some "never-made-it" crisis and wanted to prove if only to himself he could run with the big leaguers... literally. Sure, It was a wrong-doing and doesn't really belong in baseball but give the guy a little credit at least he picked the right game to do it. National TV, Cubs vs. Cards, packed Busch Stadium? At least it wasn't in Tampa Bay in the dog-days of summer where he would have entertained a half-empty stadium and a local radio broadcast.
Unlike the Rally squirrel, this nut should not be encouraged. Simply remembered. Running on the field should not become a trend, and that is not what this fan post is trying to recommend. It's just worth noting that the somersault was a good way to remember an ever more memorable game. A game where the Cards eclipsed an early five run deficit over their friendly rivals. Whether there was any magic in the squirrel's journey in 2011 or the somersault-er on Monday night will never truly be known so let's just cherish him and the furry streaker for what they were. Just another moment in Cardinals history that we can look back on and an added story we can move forward with as fans of the Birds on the Bat.