The St. Louis Cardinals have a message for suspicious fans: “It’s an inside joke.”
According to veteran Matt Carpenter, the home run celebration, which resembles former President Donald Trump’s motion following an assassination attempt on July 13, has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with the rap career of their outfielder/DH, Alec Burleson.
“Burleson is a former college rapper,” Carpenter told reporters, according The Athletic. “He has been carrying us at the plate. (The event) is not intended to make a political statement.
“It is an inside joke with Burleson. This is not a political statement in any way. I’m not sure where that came from.
During the Cardinals’ celebration, players stick their arm and fist out, just like Trump did when he stood up after being shot on July 13 during a Pennsylvania rally, shouting “fight, fight, fight!” They also cover their right ear, which happens to be the same ear that Trump bandaged after sustaining a gunshot wound.
It caused the “Talkin’ Baseball” social media account, among others, to inquire, “Is this a Trump home run celebration by the Cardinals?”
Carpenter, who played for the Yankees in 2022 and hit 15 home runs in 47 games, said the team began the celebration toward the end of the first half of the season, which ended on July 14.
“It’s gradually catching on… “It definitely picked up steam in this series (against the Atlanta Braves),” said Carpenter, who has a.245 average,.649 OPS, and two home runs in 37 games.
What appeared to be a closer link to Trump was Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls’ celebration at second base against the Yankees on Sunday, during which he mouthed “fight, fight” and punched his fist.
It was Walls’ first hit since July 10 against the Yankees, and his first extra-base hit since June 7, the first game of the season.
