St. Louis Cardinals Player Denies Home Run Celebration Has Anything to Do With Trump — But Conservatives Run With It Anyway

Ahmad Austin Jr.Jul 22nd, 2024, 1:01 pm
 
St. Louis Cardinals celebrate Alec Burleson's home run

Bally Sports

The St. Louis Cardinals have denied that a home run celebration has anything to do with Donald Trump, but it hasn’t stopped conservatives from running with it.

During the Cardinals’ game against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, Cardinals designated hitter Alec Burleson hit a solo home run. As he rounded the bases, his teammates all cupped their ears with one hand while raising a fist with the other hand. In response, Burleson did the same. It was initially believed to be a reference to Trump’s defiant reaction to being shot in the ear.

Not long after the game, Cardinals DH Matt Carpenter clarified that the home run celebration had nothing to do with the former president. The gesture he and his teammates do is actually a reference to Burleson being a rapper in college. According to Carpenter, the gesture is intended to mimic a DJ and is the “furthest thing from a political statement.”

Although Carpenter made it clear the gesture was not political in any way, it hasn’t stopped supporters of Trump from touting it as that.

Several tweets also mentioned the Tampa Bay Rays. During their Sunday game against the New York Yankees, shortstop Taylor Walls pumped his fists while saying, “Fight, fight,” after recording a double.

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