View source for Biology:Rally Squirrel

{{Short description|Baseball Mascot}}{{Infobox animal
| name = Rally Squirrel
| image =Squirrel sujit.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = An eastern gray squirrel
| birth_name =
| othername = Busch Stadium Squirrel
| species = ''Sciurus carolinensis''
| years_active = 2011–2012, 2015, 2018, 2023
| website =
}}

'''Rally Squirrel''' is the name given to an [[Biology:Eastern gray squirrel|eastern gray squirrel]] (''Sciurus carolinensis'') which appeared on the field and ran across home plate at Busch Stadium during a 2011 National League Division Series (NLDS) Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals on October 5, 2011. The squirrel captured American media attention,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/oct/09/take-2-10-9/ |title=TAKE TWO: 'Rally squirrel,' bah. Try interloping rodent. |author=Joe Walljasper |date=October 9, 2011 |work=Columbia (Missouri) Daily Tribune |access-date=October 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404023145/http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/oct/09/take-2-10-9/ |archive-date=April 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and was adopted as an unofficial mascot by the Cardinals and the populace of St. Louis.<ref name="Steve Gardner">{{cite news |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2011/10/st-louis-cardinals-rally-squirrel/1 |title=Cardinals fans go nuts for the Rally Squirrel |author=Steve Gardner |date= October 19, 2011|work=USA Today |access-date=October 22, 2011}}</ref> The Cardinals would go on to win the 2011 World Series in dramatic fashion.<ref name="Steve Gardner"/>

==Appearances==
On October 4, a gray squirrel appeared in the outfield during Game 3 of the Phillies–Cardinals National League Division Series,<ref name=post>{{cite web |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_3b45a590-ef7c-11e0-b206-001a4bcf6878.html |title=The Rally Squirrel returns for Game 4 |author=Erica Smith |date=October 5, 2011 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |access-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref> causing an interruption in play.<ref name=mlb>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/wall/article.jsp?content_id=25493212 |title=This squirrel is nuts for postseason baseball |date=October 4, 2011 |work=The Wall |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref>

During the fifth inning of Game 4 on October 5, a squirrel again appeared on the field.<ref name=trib>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-busch-stadium-squirrel-steals-spotlight-at-nlds-20111005,0,7579497.story |title=Busch Stadium squirrel steals spotlight at NLDS |date=October 5, 2011 |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref> Play was not interrupted, but the squirrel caused considerable confusion,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/Squirrel_driving_Phillies_Cardinals_nuts.html |title=Squirrel driving Phillies, Cardinals nuts |author=Ed Barkowitz |date=October 5, 2011 |work=Philadelphia Enquirerer |access-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref> running across home plate as Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt was delivering a pitch to Skip Schumaker. The squirrel then jumped into the stands.<ref name=amspec>{{cite web |url=http://spectator.org/blog/2011/10/06/this-isnt-the-first-squirrel-t |title=This Isn't The First Squirrel to Run on The Field |author=Aaron Goldstein |date=October 6, 2011 |work=American Spectator (blog) |access-date=October 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007225838/http://spectator.org/blog/2011/10/06/this-isnt-the-first-squirrel-t |archive-date=October 7, 2011 }}</ref> Umpire Ángel Hernández called the pitch a ball; Oswalt and Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel argued, unsuccessfully, that Oswalt had been distracted by the squirrel<ref name=espn>{{cite web |url=http://espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs/2011/story/_/id/7065022/2011-nlds-busch-stadium-squirrel-steals-spotlight |title=Squirrel steals spotlight at NLDS |date=October 5, 2011 |work=ESPN |access-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref> and that "no pitch" should be called.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/05/cardinals-freese-up-phillies |title=Cardinals Freese up Phillies |date=October 5, 2011 |newspaper=Toronto Sun |access-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref> Manuel later avowed that, if he had a firearm, he would have shot the obstreperous rodent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nesn.com/2011/10/charlie-manuel-says-he-would-have-shot-busch-stadium-squirrel-if-he-had-his-gun.html |title=Charlie Manuel Says He Would Have Shot Busch Stadium Squirrel If He Had His Gun |author=Mike Cole |date=October 5, 2011 |work=NESN |access-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20111006/SPORTS02/110060608/Cardinals-rally-force-Game-5-versus-Phillies |title=Cardinals rally to force Game 5 versus Phillies |date=October 6, 2011 |work=Detroit Free Press |access-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/2011/10/06/rally-squirrel-invades-field-in-st-louis-becomes-a-celebrity/ |title='Rally squirrel' invades field in St. Louis, becomes a celebrity |date=October 6, 2011 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |access-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref> Some commentators speculated that the October 4 and October 5 squirrels were the same animal, but this was not proven.<ref name=post/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=7070570 |title=St Louis Cards rally squirrel is still on the loose |author=Anna McDonald |date=October 7, 2011 |work=ESPN |access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref>

Before Game 5 of the NLDS in Philadelphia, Oswalt was again accosted by a squirrel near the warning track at Citizens Bank Park.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/rally-squirrel-or-not-busch-officials-hope-to-ride-ballpark-of-stadium-vermin/2011/10/07/gIQAtD0wSL_story.html |title=Squirrelly predicament: Ballpark critter makes way to Philadelphia for Game 5 |date=October 7, 2011 |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=October 9, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref> Philadelphia fans taunted the Cardinals by throwing a stuffed squirrel into the team's bullpen.  Cardinals pitcher Octavio Dotel retrieved it, and kept it in his locker. The Cardinals defeated the Phillies in five games, and Dotel said he would keep the squirrel through the World Series. "They didn't know that it's our good luck; they gave us good luck to our bullpen and that's why the bullpen has been so great lately", commented Dotel about the Philadelphia fans.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Amy K. |title=St. Louis saved by its bullpen |date=October 17, 2011 |work=ESPN.com |url=http://espn.go.com/dallas/story/_/id/7116392/st-louis-cardinals-bullpen-carry-load-texas-rangers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020190907/http://espn.go.com/dallas/story/_/id/7116392/st-louis-cardinals-bullpen-carry-load-texas-rangers |url-status=live |archive-date=October 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kepner |first=Tyler |title=A Gritty Bullpen of Fierce Creatures |date=October 18, 2011 |newspaper=The New York Times |page=B14 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/sports/baseball/for-st-louis-cardinals-nutty-way-to-win-dont-forget-squirrel.html?_r=1&ref=sports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202182940/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/sports/baseball/for-st-louis-cardinals-nutty-way-to-win-dont-forget-squirrel.html?_r=2&ref=sports |archive-date=February 2, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On October 16 in Milwaukee, Dotel and teammates toasted the stuffed squirrel and sprayed it with champagne and beer while celebrating their NLCS victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, which sent them to the World Series against the Texas Rangers.

===Return===
On June 19, 2015, the Cardinals were once again playing the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. During the fifth inning, a squirrel started climbing up the net behind home plate, ran along the guide wire, jumped on top of the Phillies dugout, and then appeared to jump at Chase Utley, the Phillies second baseman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/weird/Rally-Squirrel-Steals-Show-at-Phillies-Game-308562991.html |title='Rally Squirrel' Tries to Take Out Chase Utley at Phillies Game |author=Vince Lattanzio |date=June 19, 2015 |work=NBC 10 Philadelphia |access-date=June 20, 2015}}</ref> Soon after, the appearance of the squirrel was called the return of the Rally Squirrel. The Cardinals won this game 12-4.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theindychannel.com/newsy/rally-squirrel-returns-during-cardsphillies-game |title='Rally Squirrel' Returns During Cards-Phillies Game |author=Christian Bryant |date=June 19, 2015 |work=ABC RTV6  |access-date=June 20, 2015}}</ref>

==Public reaction==
A [[Company:Twitter|Twitter]] account purporting to be that of the Rally Squirrel was activated on October 4, 2011;<ref name=post/><ref name=trib/> by October 6 it had 11,000 followers<ref name=times>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/07/sports/baseball/phillies-cardinals-who-needs-a-black-cat.html |title=Who Needs a Black Cat? Rally Squirrel Toys With the Phillies |author=Jeré Longman |date=October 6, 2011 |work=New York Times |access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref> and 27,000 by late October.<ref name=umsl>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.umsl.edu/news/2011/10/21/rallysquirrel/ |title=Marketing professor talks 'Rally Squirrel' craze |author=Jennifer Hatton |date=October 21, 2011 |work=UMSL Daily |publisher=University of Missouri at St. Louis |access-date=October 22, 2011}}</ref> By October 5, the squirrel had his own theme song,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2011/10/05/the-busch-rally-squirrel/ |title=The Busch Rally Squirrel! |date=October 5, 2011 |work=CBS St. Louis |access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref> and by October 6 Rally Squirrel T-shirts were in production.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-rally-squirrel-t-shirts-100611,0,2808977.story |title=The Rally Squirrel T-Shirt Industry And Other Businesses Rooting For Cardinals |author=George Sells |date=October 6, 2011 |work=Fox2Now (KTVI TV) |access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref> Within a few days, these were reported as "flying off the shelves" with "thousands" being sold,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chesterfield.patch.com/articles/going-nuts-over-rally-squirrel-might-work |title=Going Nuts Over Rally Squirrel Might Work |author=James Baer |date=October 10, 2011 |work=Chesterfield Patch |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref> while Rally Squirrel costumes were reported as becoming "one of the hot Halloween costumes" of the season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/280757/71/Costume-retailer-runs-out-of-Rally-Squirrel-costumes |title=Costume retailer runs out of Rally Squirrel costumes |author=Kay Quinn |date=October 10, 2011 |work=KSDK |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

On October 11, 2011, a different Rally Squirrel appeared at a press conference in Kiener Plaza, where Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation announced that it had adopted the Rally Squirrel as its mascot for a fundraising drive.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2011/10/10/cards-rally-squirrel-to-make-downtown-appearance-for-charity-monday-morning/ |title=UPDATED: "Rally Squirrel" Hats, Shirts, Cards on Sale; Money Goes to Charity |date=October 10, 2011 |work=CBS St. Louis |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Rally-Squirrel-raising-money-for-charity--131445878.html |title=Rally Squirrel raising money for charity |date=October 10, 2011 |work=KMOV |access-date=October 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012164810/http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Rally-Squirrel-raising-money-for-charity--131445878.html |archive-date=October 12, 2011 }}</ref> On the same date, the Cardinals announced that the Rally Squirrel would be participating in an October 12 team rally<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ksdk.com/dontmiss/280851/193/Rally-Squirrel-to-attend-Cardinals-pep-rally |title="Rally Squirrel" to attend Cardinals pep rally |date=October 11, 2011 |work=KSDK |access-date=October 11, 2011 |archive-date=January 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127074256/http://www.ksdk.com/dontmiss/280851/193/Rally-Squirrel-to-attend-Cardinals-pep-rally |url-status=dead }}</ref> and that 40,000 rally towels with a squirrel motif would be distributed at that day's game of the 2011 National League Championship Series (which was Game 3, a 4-3 Cardinals victory). The Rally Squirrel, in the form of a performer wearing a squirrel costume with a Cardinals jersey, indeed joined the existing Cardinals costumed mascot Fredbird at pre-game rally events during the remainder of the postseason; this Rally Squirrel also assisted Fredbird and Team Fredbird in passing out T-shirts in the stands at Busch Stadium between innings.

By October 14, 2011, sales of Rally Squirrel T-shirts had generated approximately $210,000 for the Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rally Squirrel generating serious money for Cardinal Gennon|date=October 14, 2011|publisher=October 14, 2011|url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/281413/3/Rally-Squirrel-generating-serious-money-for-Cardinal-Gennon}}</ref>

The Rally Squirrel gained notoriety again in late January 2012 when it was announced that it would be immortalized with a Topps [[Biology:Baseball card|baseball card]]. The special-edition card is actually that of Cardinals player Skip Schumaker but instead of the traditional "face shot" the card features only Schumaker's pant leg in the photo background as the Rally Squirrel is seen dashing across the batters box.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/skip-schumaker-baseball-card-features-rally-squirrel-not-190252048.html|title=Skip Schumaker baseball card features rally squirrel|publisher=Yahoo Sports "Big League Stew"|date=2012-01-30|access-date=2012-01-30}}</ref> The Rally Squirrel was also immortalized on the St. Louis World Series rings.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rally squirrel appears on Cards' championship rings|date=April 14, 2012|publisher=April 14, 2012|url=http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/327250}}</ref>  St. Louis singer/songwriter, Randy Mayfield wrote the song, "Rally Squirrel" that was featured on Fox News and on Fox Sports during game 6 of the 2011 World Series.

[[File:Rally-Squirrel-4.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Rally Squirrel and Cardinals mascot Fredbird walking the field at Busch Stadium during Game 7 of the 2011 World Series.]]

==Disposition==
A squirrel believed to be the Rally Squirrel was captured at Busch Stadium on October 8 and turned over to the Wildlife Rescue Center for eventual release in Castlewood State Park.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/280485/3/The-squirrel-believed-to-be-Rally-Squirrel-leaves-Busch-Stadium- |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127193059/http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/280485/3/The-squirrel-believed-to-be-Rally-Squirrel-leaves-Busch-Stadium- |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 27, 2013 |title=The squirrel believed to be Rally Squirrel leaves Busch Stadium |author=Kathleen Berger |date=October 8, 2011 |work=KSDK |access-date=October 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Doyle |first=Ricky |title=Rally Squirrel Picked Up by Wildlife Rescue Center, Removed From Busch Stadium |date=October 10, 2011 |work=NESN.com |url=http://www.nesn.com/2011/10/squirrel-believed-to-be-busch-stadium-rally-squirrel-picked-up-by-wildlife-rescue-center.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011084212/http://www.nesn.com/2011/10/squirrel-believed-to-be-busch-stadium-rally-squirrel-picked-up-by-wildlife-rescue-center.html |url-status=live |archive-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref> As of October 11, four squirrels had been captured at Busch Stadium.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/la-russa-cardinals-going-nuts-for-rally-squirrel-fervor-at-busch-stadium/2011/10/11/gIQAYhrkdL_story.html |title=La Russa, Cardinals going nuts for Rally Squirrel fervor at Busch Stadium |date=October 11, 2011 |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=October 12, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref> The squirrel believed to be the actual Rally Squirrel was eventually released near the Wildlife Rescue Center's facility in Ballwin, Missouri.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204618704576643644124247606 |title=The Rally Squirrel Runs to Safety |author=Jason Gay |date=October 21, 2011 |work=Wall Street Journal |access-date=October 22, 2011}}</ref>

==Decline to obscurity==
By the 2013 season, when the Cardinals again advanced to the World Series (although they lost to the Boston Red Sox), Rally Squirrel had faded into obscurity, with the ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' reporting that at the time of the World Series "you'd be hard-pressed to find any remnants of the squirrel today at the Cardinals store at Busch Stadium, aside from a pile or two of generic stuffed squirrels near the counter".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/consumer-central/rally-squirrel-may-have-left-the-field-but-trademark-dispute/article_624bf287-705d-533e-89fa-fab91ac5b740.html |title=Rally Squirrel may have left the field, but trademark dispute lives on |author=Kavita Kumar |date=October 25, 2013 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |access-date=March 21, 2017}}</ref>

==Other baseball squirrels==
On May 13, 2017, also at Progressive Field in Cleveland, a squirrel raced in from right field and reached the area around the pitcher's mound, forcing the umpires to halt play.  The home team lost 4-1 to the Minnesota Twins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/boxscore?id=65892|title=Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Indians - Box Score - May 13, 2017|website=www.foxsports.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-14}}</ref>  "Those type of things are funnier when you're ahead" Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona said.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20170514/berrios-fine-1st-start-twins-outlast-indians-squirrel-4-1|title=Berrios fine 1st start, Twins outlast Indians, squirrel 4-1|last=Writer|first=STEVE HERRICK, Associated Press Sports|work=The Repository|access-date=2017-05-14|language=en}}</ref> This squirrel was also referred to as Rally Squirrel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/05/squirrel-delay-indians-twins-cleveland-progressive-field-mlb-animals-baseball-dog |title=One fearless squirrel managed to force a delay in the Indians vs. Twins game |author=Alysha Tsuji |date=May 13, 2017 |work=USA Today |access-date=May 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neosportsinsiders.com/rally-squirrel-appears-progressive-field-6th-inning-video-included/ |title=Rally Squirrel appears at Progressive Field in the 6th inning; Video Included |author=Payton Vince |date=May 13, 2017 |work=Neo Sports Insiders |access-date=May 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com/ohio/story/squirrel-on-the-field-causes-delay-in-indians-game-051317 |title=Squirrel on the field causes delay of Indians game |author=Kevin Berger |date=May 13, 2017 |work=Fox Sports |access-date=May 15, 2017}}</ref>

On September 4, 2007, a squirrel darted onto the field at Busch Stadium. That squirrel, which was captured and released into the wild, was also nicknamed Rally Squirrel.<ref name="post" />

A squirrel which held up play several times at Progressive Field in Cleveland on August 25, 2004 was also called Rally Squirrel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240825105 |title=Small-ball helps Cleveland end 9-game skid |date=August 25, 2004 |work=ESPN |access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040825&content_id=838421&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle |title=Indians welcome 'Rally Squirrel' |author=Justice B. Hill |date=August 25, 2004 |work=MLB |access-date=October 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402034658/http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040825&content_id=838421&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle |archive-date=April 2, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title="Rally Squirrel" helps Indians win|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=August 26, 2004|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=104B9270D2814090&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}}{{subscription required}}</ref> Other squirrels have appeared on baseball playing fields from time to time, occasionally interrupting play or gaining minor press notice.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280903105 |title=Swisher, Ramirez homer to power White Sox to win |date=September 3, 2008 |work=ESPN |access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://outsidetheboxscore.blogspot.com/2011/09/agile-squirrel-invades-cleveland.html |title=Agile Squirrel Invades Cleveland Indians Bullpen |date=September 7, 2011 |work=Outside the Boxscore |access-date=October 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2007/09/06/2007-09-06_squirrel_in_outfield_seems_to_be_good_om.html |title=Squirrel in outfield seems to be good omen for Yankees |author=Ethan Rouen and Bill Hutchinson |date=September 6, 2007 |work=New York Daily News |access-date=October 12, 2011}}</ref>

In August 2019, a squirrel interrupted play at Target Field on two consecutive nights. On the second night, the interruption was followed by the Twins scoring four runs in a game they went on to win 14-4, which led to this squirrel also being dubbed "Rally Squirrel".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/for-second-straight-night-squirrel-interrupts-twins-white-sox-game/557609841/ |title=For second night, squirrel steals the show at Target Field |date=August 21, 2019 |work=[Minneapolis] Star-Tribune |access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
*Rally Monkey
*Rat Trick
*List of Major League Baseball mascots
*2011 St. Louis Cardinals season

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==


[[Category:Sciurus]]

{{Sourceattribution|Rally Squirrel}}