Fan Removed from Wrigley Field After Climbing Over Netting to Recover a Baseball Bat
Cracking a baseball game and nabbing a free souvenir like a foul or home run ball is an irresistible thrill, or so I thought. But then again, one Chicago Cubs fan took enthusiasm to a whole new level.
The Cubs were square off against the Milwaukee Brewers when, in the sixth inning's top, Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick faced Chris Flexen. Frelick swung hard at Flexen's 1-0 offering, only for his bat to hilariously slip from his grip and soar into the netting behind home plate, appearing to be hanging around 10 to 15 feet high.
Typically, one would expect the grounds crew to handle such a situation. But not today—a spectator seated behind home plate was quick on his feet (or should I say arms?) and scaled the netting like he was a racing champion crossing the finish line at the Indianapolis 500.
First off, kudos to Jackson Chourio, who was preparing to bat. The Cubs' broadcast booth commented on the fan's eagerness, spotting a covetable freebie, and scaling the net like a kid attempting a rope-climbing challenge in gym class.
Quite predictably, his impulsive action earned him a swift exit from Wrigley Field, but let's be real, when was the last time you witnessed someone getting cheered on while getting booted out of a stadium? Normally, you'd need to interfere with a home run for that to happen.
As per the Associated Press, our net-scaling friend returned to his seat minutes later to a warm welcome from his fellow fans. Yet, contrary to popular belief, he did not get to claim the original bat. According to a report by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as cited by Sports Illustrated, Frelick instead gifted the fan a different signed game-used bat with a nod of appreciation, "Nice job," inscribed on it[5].
Now, isn't it intriguing to ponder: did the fan catch the allure of the spotlight or the exclusive keepsake?
In the thrilling world of baseball, even a simple swing can lead to unexpected events, like the one where a fan scaled the netting at Wrigley Field to capture Chris Flexen's slippery bat during an MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite being escorted out, the fan received a warm welcome upon his return, but alas, the original bat wasn't his to keep; Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick graciously gifted him a signed game-used bat instead.
