An Ejection, In More Ways Than One
On Tuesday night in Greensboro, NC, the hometown Grasshoppers lost to the Asheville Tourists by a score of 9-6.
The specifics of this contest will soon fade from memory, but one event from the evening will live forever: Master Yogi Berra, the Grasshoppers canine mascot, was ejected from the game after using the playing field as his personal toilet.
From the press release (yes, there was a press release):
“Battling a stomach virus and fever, Yogi attempted his usual between inning promotion of fetching a ball shot to deep center field. Sprinting back to the home dugout, he inexplicably stopped and let nature take its course. [Home plate umpire Jason] Hutchings immediately tossed him, and in doing so, it is believed that he made Yogi the first dog to ever be ejected from a professional baseball game.”
Being the well-connected individual I am, I have obtained photographic evidence of this momentous event. I have two pictures to share, the second of which may be considered in poor taste. But share it I must. After all, an informed citizenry is the bulwark of democracy.
Here’s the wind-up:
And now, the pitch:
(Photos by Dano Keeney)
benjamin.hill@mlb.com
Ben's Biz Blog 
Great! I thought I had it figured out! Don’t read Ben’s blog until AFTER dinner! And what did I get?? Thanks! lol!
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
I’ve followed your work for several years now and this compels me to speak up. Excellent, excellent work. Best blog entry I’ve seen in recent memory.
Matt
hahaha! bathroom humor strikes again on ben’s biz blog! thanks.
Eww! I bet the fielders tried to avoid going near THAT spot for the rest of the game. And I pity whoever had to try to clean it up – not just a simple scoop.
Sue
Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts
Awesome pictures! Haha, priceless!
My favorite part is the “Think. Act. Breathe.” Billboard in the background.
Stomach flu indeed.
What I don’t understand is the fielder standing right there and laughing. Laughing! He has to play around that for the rest of the game and he’s laughing! I would have given the dog a swift kick and tried to get it to go somewhere else to do it’s business. Geeze.