A Chicago Cubs fan has drawn widespread criticism following a viral video that appears to show him shoving a young woman in an effort to obtain a home run ball. The incident occurred during Sunday's game between the Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
During the bottom of the third inning, Cubs batter Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a home run. Fan footage circulating on social media shows a man, wearing a Kenny Lofton jersey, reaching past a young woman in his seating row who was already positioned to catch the ball. The video appears to capture the man yanking the woman back as he lunges for the ball, causing her to stumble and fall.
The footage quickly spread across social media platforms, eliciting strong reactions from viewers. Many expressed outrage, with one user on X (formerly Twitter) stating, "Cubs fans are either the sweetest people on earth or the absolute worst people to exist. Girlllll I would’ve clocked him after." Another commenter called the behavior "appalling."
It remains unclear if the fan successfully retrieved the home run ball. Despite the on-field controversy, the Cubs ultimately lost the game to the Cardinals 11-4. The loss concluded the three-game series, with the Cardinals taking the rubber match.
The Cubs currently lead the National League Wild Card standings with a 72-53 record. They hold a five-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres, and are in a competitive race with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the remaining Wild Card spots. The team is scheduled to host the Chicago White Sox for a three-game series beginning Monday.