In 2024, during a friendly match between the Philadelphia Union and New York City FC at Subaru Park in Pennsylvania, play was momentarily stopped when a raccoon made its way onto the field. Despite the efforts of workers to remove the creature, it took 161 seconds before the raccoon was successfully taken off the field, much to the amusement of the spectators.
Turtle Travels in Florida
Similarly, in Bradenton, Florida in 2024, a turtle caused a brief stoppage of play during a game involving the Bradenton Marauders, a minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The fast reptile roamed around the outfield until pitcher Magdiel Cotto was able to safely remove it and allow the game to continue.
Bees Swarm in Arizona
During a pre-game warmup at Chase Field in Arizona in 2024, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers were greeted by an unexpected visitor – a swarm of bees. The colony formed on the protective netting behind home plate, causing a delay of one hour and 55 minutes. The Diamondbacks had to call in a beekeeper, Matt Hilton, from Blue Sky Pest Control to handle the situation.
Cat Visits Angel Stadium
At Angel Stadium in California in 2024, a cat made a surprise appearance during a game between the Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies. The cat sprinted onto the field, landing in the Phillies’ dugout, much to the confusion and amusement of both players and spectators.
In 2023 at Yankee Stadium in New York, a squirrel ran across the outfield wall, surprising fans and players alike. Fortunately, no harm was done during the squirrel’s unexpected adventure on the field.
On multiple occasions in San Antonio at the AT&T Center, bats made uninvited appearances during basketball games involving the San Antonio Spurs. From Manu Ginobili’s bat swatting skills in a game against the Sacramento Kings in 2009 to the mascot, The Coyote, capturing a bat during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019, these incidents added an element of surprise and excitement to the games.
Rally Squirrel’s World Series Run
During Game 3 of the National League Division Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals in 2011 at Busch Stadium, a gray squirrel ran across home plate, creating confusion among players. Despite the lack of a delay in the game, the Cardinals went on to win the series and eventually the World Series, with the Rally Squirrel becoming a part of the team’s folklore.
Unexpected Feline Appearances
In both M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore in 2017 and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 2019, cats made unexpected appearances during NFL games, with one kitten being officially adopted by a stadium employee. These incidents added a touch of charm and unpredictability to the games.
Dog’s Ball Obsession
During the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland in 2012, a dog took its ball obsession to a new level by stealing golfer Paul Casey’s golf ball right off the green. Despite the unusual interruption, Casey was able to continue playing and even scored a birdie on the hole.
Bee Swarm in Cincinnati
Finally, in 2019 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, a swarm of bees caused an 18-minute delay before a game between the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds. The unpredictability of bees and the potential for stings added an element of risk and excitement to the proceedings.
Overall, these top animal-on-field moments serve as a reminder that nature always has a way of inserting itself into the world of sports, creating moments of hilarity, confusion, and sometimes even heroism.