CHICAGO (AP) -Throwing an opponent’s home run ball back onto the field has long been a tradition for Chicago Cubs fans.
But how about 15 balls flying back onto the grass at Wrigley Field?
That’s what happened Wednesday night after Cincinnati’s Adam Dunn homered in the eighth inning. Most of the souvenirs wound up in right field, though the ball shower came from all angles and briefly held up the game.
By the way, the Cubs were leading 11-3 at the time.
“That’s something I hadn’t seen before. I don’t know what to say. It stopped and a few more came in,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said before Thursday’s game against the Reds.
“What’s amazing is they beat each other up trying to get these balls in batting practice. They scrape their knees and elbows and I’ve seen some fist fights out there. All of a sudden they give them up rather easily.”
It certainly startled Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome. The rookie from Japan knew the custom of throwing back one ball, not more than a dozen.
“I was surprised. I didn’t know that many people hit a home run today,” Fukudome said through a translator after the 12-3 win. The win gave the Cubs a 9-5 record, tied for third-best in the majors.
The Cubs still play most of their home games during the day, but have 26 scheduled night games at Wrigley this season.
Is there a big difference between fans who come to night games?
“Maybe a few more cocktails before they come to the ballpark,” Piniella said.
“Last night, I guess when the first one came down everybody got into the mood of testing their arm a little bit. I guarantee that a few of them are getting massages today. They’ve got some sore shoulders. I’ve never seen that before. Hopefully we won’t see it again.”
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