Rally Squirrel facts for kids
| Other name(s) | Busch Stadium Squirrel |
|---|---|
| Species | Sciurus carolinensis |
| Years active | 2011-2012, 2015 |
The Rally Squirrel is a famous gray squirrel that became a big deal in Major League Baseball. This special squirrel appeared during a baseball game on October 5, 2011. It ran across the field at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, right in the middle of an important game.
This happened during the 2011 National League Division Series (NLDS). It was a playoff game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals. The squirrel quickly caught everyone's attention. Soon, it became an unofficial good luck charm for the Cardinals team and the city of St. Louis. The Cardinals then went on to win the 2011 World Series in an exciting way!
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The Squirrel's Big Appearances
The Rally Squirrel first showed up on October 4, 2011. It appeared in the outfield during Game 3 of the Phillies–Cardinals playoff series. This caused the game to pause for a moment.
Game 4's Famous Run
The very next day, on October 5, the squirrel returned during Game 4. This time, it ran across home plate while Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt was throwing a pitch. The batter, Skip Schumaker, was at the plate. The squirrel then quickly jumped into the stands.
The umpire, Ángel Hernández, said the pitch was a "ball." Oswalt and his manager, Charlie Manuel, argued that the squirrel distracted them. They wanted the pitch to not count. But their argument didn't work. Manuel even joked later that he wished he could have stopped the squirrel. Some people thought it was the same squirrel from the day before, but no one knew for sure.
Squirrels in Philadelphia
Before Game 5 of the NLDS, which was played in Philadelphia, another squirrel appeared. This one was near Oswalt again, at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia fans even threw a stuffed squirrel into the Cardinals' bullpen to tease them.
Cardinals pitcher Octavio Dotel picked up the stuffed squirrel. He decided to keep it in his locker. The Cardinals won the series against the Phillies. Dotel said he would keep the squirrel for good luck all the way through the World Series. He thought the Philadelphia fans had accidentally given the Cardinals good luck.
Celebrating with the Squirrel
On October 16, the Cardinals celebrated their win against the Milwaukee Brewers. This win sent them to the World Series. Dotel and his teammates toasted the stuffed squirrel. They even sprayed it with champagne and beer! The team felt the squirrel brought them good fortune.
The Squirrel's Return in 2015
The Rally Squirrel made another appearance on June 19, 2015. The Cardinals were playing the Philadelphia Phillies again at Citizens Bank Park. During the fifth inning, a squirrel climbed the net behind home plate. It ran along a wire and jumped onto the Phillies dugout. It even seemed to jump toward Phillies player Chase Utley.
People quickly called this the "return of the Rally Squirrel." The Cardinals ended up winning that game with a score of 12-4.
How People Reacted to the Squirrel
The Rally Squirrel became very popular very fast.
Online Fame and Merchandise
A Twitter account pretending to be the Rally Squirrel started on October 4, 2011. By October 6, it had 11,000 followers! By the end of October, it had 27,000 followers. The squirrel even got its own theme song.
Soon, Rally Squirrel T-shirts were being made. These shirts sold out very quickly, with thousands being bought. Rally Squirrel costumes also became popular for Halloween that year.
Charity and Team Mascot
On October 11, 2011, a different Rally Squirrel appeared at a press conference. This was in Kiener Plaza. The Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation announced the squirrel would be their mascot. It would help them raise money.
The Cardinals team also announced the Rally Squirrel would join a team rally. They gave out 40,000 rally towels with a squirrel picture on them. This was for Game 3 of the 2011 National League Championship Series. The Cardinals won that game 4-3.
A person in a squirrel costume, wearing a Cardinals jersey, joined the team's mascot, Fredbird. This costumed Rally Squirrel helped Fredbird at pre-game events. It also helped give out T-shirts to fans during games.
By October 14, 2011, the Rally Squirrel T-shirt sales had raised about $210,000. This money went to the Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation.
Immortalized in Baseball History
The Rally Squirrel became famous again in January 2012. It was announced that the squirrel would be on a Topps baseball card. This special card was for Cardinals player Skip Schumaker. But instead of a normal picture of Schumaker, it showed only his pant leg. In the background, the Rally Squirrel was seen running across the batter's box.
The Rally Squirrel was also put on the World Series rings for the St. Louis Cardinals. This showed how important it was to their victory.
Where Did the Squirrel Go?
On October 8, a squirrel believed to be the Rally Squirrel was caught at Busch Stadium. It was given to the Wildlife Rescue Center. The plan was to release it into Castlewood State Park.
By October 11, four squirrels had been caught at Busch Stadium. The squirrel thought to be the real Rally Squirrel was later released. It was set free near the Wildlife Rescue Center's building in Ballwin, Missouri.
Other Baseball Squirrels
The Rally Squirrel wasn't the only squirrel to cause a stir in baseball.
- On May 13, 2017, a squirrel ran onto the field in Cleveland. It stopped play at Progressive Field. The home team lost that game. The manager joked that these things are funnier when your team is winning. This squirrel was also called a Rally Squirrel.
- On September 4, 2007, a squirrel darted onto the field at Busch Stadium. It was caught and released. It was also nicknamed Rally Squirrel.
- Another squirrel stopped play several times in Cleveland on August 25, 2004. It was also called Rally Squirrel.
- In August 2019, a squirrel interrupted a game at Target Field for two nights in a row. On the second night, the home team, the Minnesota Twins, scored four runs after the squirrel appeared. They won the game 14-4. This squirrel was also called "Rally Squirrel."
