Sunday proved to be a wild day in the political realm — and the carry-over may have translated to the baseball diamond.
Just hours after Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and eight days after the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania, some MLB players’ celebrations were seen as possible expressions of support for the 2024 Republican nominee.
During the St. Louis Cardinals’ 6-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, designated hitter Alec Burleson hit a two-run home run in the top of the third inning.
As Burleson rounded third base, he and members of the Cardinals’ dugout placed their right hands on their right ears and held up their left fists, a possible reference to Trump’s ear wound and the triumphant pose he flashed before being whisked off the rally stage.
However, when asked about the reaction postgame, the team denied any reference to Trump.
Veteran Matt Carpenter said the celebration is meant to mimic a DJ listening to his headphones, in reference to Burleson’s “college” rapper days as “Biscuit,” according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
“Definitely not a political statement,” Carpenter said, per the outlet. “That is off base.”
Meanwhile, a contest between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees also seemed to feature callbacks to Trump’s assassination attempt.
Following a double in the top of the fifth inning, Rays shortstop Taylor Walls pumped his right fist twice and exclaimed “Fight! Fight!”, which Trump uttered in Pennsylvania.
The hit was Walls’ first for extra bases since June 25, making it difficult to discern whether it was connected to the Trump shooting.
The potential innuendos to the 45th president come on the heels of last week’s Republican National Convention, where Trump supporters donned bandages on their ears to express support.
It’s worth noting that Trump has fans throughout the baseball landscape.
Washington Nationals pitcher Patrick Corbin has regularly expressed his support of Trump, even posting a picture of a bloodied Trump on his personal Instagram page with the caption “ususus” and a praying hands emoji.