‘BE BETTER PEOPLE’: Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman blasts autograph seeker who elbowed kid
The pitcher was commenting on all-star game video involving Astros' Justin Verlander
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When elbows are thrown, Blue Jays pitchers get angry.
A viral video of an over-eager adult fan trying to get an autograph has caught the attention of Toronto Blue Jays player Kevin Gausman, who blasted the man for his actions.
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‘BE BETTER PEOPLE’: Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman blasts autograph seeker who elbowed kid Back to video
The video — which was shot at the MLB all-star game on Tuesday — shows a man in a sea of younger fans trying to get the attention of Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander for an autograph.
The apparently middle-aged man gets more aggressive, waving his ball-holding hand around, which irks the boy to the right of him. The boy then tries to push the man back.
The elder fan later elbows his younger counterpart, who just looks at him in shock as the fan tries to start an argument.
Undeterred, the boy returns his focus to Verlander, asking him to sign the ball. The man continues to violently shake his ball in front of Verlander as the pitcher chooses to sign the kid’s ball instead.
“Honestly this is nothing new, grown men pushing kids for balls, taking foul balls from kids, taking the ball they knew damn well we were tossing to a kid. Be better people,” Gausman tweeted Tuesday.
Many shared Gausman’s sentiments, annoyed by the adult fan’s actions.
“This guy is terrible, it means more for kids getting autographs. I hope this guy didn’t get a single autograph!” one tweeted.
“It’s terrible. At games, men are camped out for autographs and don’t let the kids in. My ten-year-old got shoved aside by a ‘collector,'” another responded.
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Some, however, came to the defence of the adult autograph hound.
“What if the adult is trying to get the ball signed for THEIR kid. But the kid can’t get it for some reason. Not saying that’s happening in this particular incident. But for example, if a foul ball gets hit into a section at a game. The ball is fare (sic) game. To the 9 and 50-year-old,” one retorted.
“I’m gonna say this: it’s wrong of him to be pushy against the kids and I hope it’s not for sale. On the flip: I’m 39 and would like and (sic) autographed ball from a player, can we get ours too?” asked another in defence.
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