Matt Carpenter, designated hitter for the St. Louis Cardinals, addressed online speculation about his team's recent celebration and repeatedly emphasized that the gestures were under no circumstances a political statement.
The team celebration was called into query on Sunday afternoon after an internet portal compared it to photographs that emerged shortly after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13.
Footage of Alec Burleson's home run and the following celebration within the dugout showed Burleson and lots of of his teammates covering their ears with one hand while raising their fists within the air. Lars Nootbaar also made this gesture when he rounded the bases after his own residence run one inning later.
Carpenter denied any political motivation and said the celebration was intended as a team joke with Burleson.
“Burleson is a former college rapper,” Carpenter said. “He carried us to the plate. (The celebration) is anything but a political statement.”
Is this a Trump home run celebration by the Cardinals? pic.twitter.com/f2XrQr0q3u
— Talkin Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 21, 2024
“It's an inside joke from (Burleson),” Carpenter said. “It's definitely not a political statement. I don't know where it came from.”
Carpenter said the gestures were meant to mimic a DJ and were a nod to Burleson, who hits probably the most home runs on the team. Burleson was a rapper in college and his teammates all the time call him by his rap name “Biscuit” within the locker room.
Although the celebration was publicly questioned on Sunday afternoon, Carpenter said the team had been holding the celebration for the reason that end of the primary half of the season.
“It's starting to catch on,” Carpenter said. “I don't know who or who was the first referee to do it on the field, but it was definitely in the first half. It's definitely picked up steam in this series.”
“Definitely not a political statement. I think that's a bit off the mark here.”
The Cardinals weren't the one ones who left spectators guessing about their celebrations. After hitting a double at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, Rays infielder Taylor Walls raised his fist and mouthed “fight, fight,” much like Trump's gesture moments after his assassination attempt.
After this double act, Taylor Walls sang the Trump song “Fight! Fight!” pic.twitter.com/8K5ovTEIQh
— Talkin Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 21, 2024
image credit : www.nytimes.com