The New York Mets arrived at Citi Field on Sunday, July 26 prepared to play a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, first they had to contend with an unexpected and unwanted visitor in their clubhouse.
A baby raccoon had somehow found its way into the Mets’ clubhouse weight room. According to Mets relief pitcher Bobby Parnell, the raccoon was docile and cooperative. It entered a cage without putting up a fight. Parnell told reporters the raccoon never got defensive or aggressive. It was released in a non-populated part of Queens. The raccoon was captured and set free before it could be given a name.
A cage happened to be on hand at the clubhouse at the time of the incident. This has led to speculation that the Mets have an ongoing problem with wild animals sneaking into their clubhouse. Citi Field borders Willets Point in Flushing, Queens, which includes parkland left over from the 1964 World’s Fair.
This is not the first time the Mets have had an unwanted animal visitor in their clubhouse. In 2012, Frank Francisco, the Mets’ closer, publicly called the rival New York Yankees chickens. This led to stories in the tabloids and prompted fellow Mets reliever Tim Byrdak to buy a live chicken in Chinatown for $8 and set it loose in the clubhouse. His teammates named the chicken “Little Jerry Seinfeld,” in reference to an episode of hit series “Seinfeld” in which Kramer buys a rooster hoping to have it lay eggs. “Little Jerry Seinfeld” was released at a sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York.
It is generally not a good idea to try to catch a wild animal yourself because it could become aggressive. If a raccoon is becoming a nuisance on your property, call the professionals at Anderson Wildlife Control to capture and relocate it safely and humanely.
