The 2020 MLB season has some truly weird wrinkles to it, from socially-distanced-and-masked umpire and coach arguments to man-on-second extra inning rules to fake virtual fans in the stands.
But the best twist thus far has been the fans who aren’t computer generated. Cardboard cutouts that have been placed in stands around the Majors have provided some of the best entertainment in this bizarre year of baseball.
There are celebrities in some “crowds,” dogs belonging to players, some hilarious stuff and another moment that sparked a player to seek out the real person behind the cardboard visage.
Let’s start with a funny one: a Chicago White Sox fan bought 100 cutouts of himself to cheer on his favorite team:
White Sox fan Paul Garrett bought 100 cardboard cutouts of himself! He’ll be cheering on the White Sox near the visitors dugout. pic.twitter.com/hj8TJbyhpP
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) July 22, 2020
People thought Hall of Famer Chipper Jones bought one to put at Citi Field after he spent so many years destroying the Mets (remember, he named his son Shea after the Mets’ old home, Shea Stadium), but per The Post, ESPN bought the snaps of Jones and his son:
🗣 “LARRY! LARRY!”
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 24, 2020
Celebrity cutouts include some very famous people in San Francisco (look above the Niners!) and Los Angeles:
The closest I can get to @JimmyG_10 talking to me in the offseason … @E40 knows what’s good tho! Good luck tonight @SFGiants 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/6Xs5kQ5ONv
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) July 24, 2020
Some bigger names among the Dodger Stadium cutouts, in case you were wondering …
Tommy Lasorda
Rob Lowe
Mario Lopez
Brad Paisley
Bryan Cranston
Mike Brito
Daddy Yankee
Natti Natasha
Rachel, Sharon & David Robinson pic.twitter.com/CpGJcHX37e— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) July 24, 2020
People have put their pets in, including some Mets players’ dogs, one of which got unfortunately nailed by a home run ball:
I think @dog_rates to know about this. The dog (picture) that was hit is Willow McNeil, puppy of Mets 3rd baseman Jeff. This cannot be tolerated pic.twitter.com/mxziqsuwWL
— Jo (@MickeyMets) July 25, 2020
Dog cardboard cutout at Citi Field, and I love it @mets @mlb pic.twitter.com/px4hNznwvA
— RV (@Reen69420) July 18, 2020
Close to 5,000 people purchased cardboard cutouts of themselves for @Mets games at Citi Field this season.
One person bought a cutout for their dog and it’s pretty great. pic.twitter.com/8f1XJjie3h
— Avish Sood (@AvishSood) July 19, 2020
And when Dodgers catcher Will Smith nearly beheaded one fan’s cutout, he reached out to give the guy a ball:
Hey @Dodgers @will_smith30 do I get to keep the ball pic.twitter.com/wMeZrU2EYD
— Austin Donley (@adonley3) July 25, 2020
Sorry I took your head off 😂😂😂 shoot me a dm and I’ll hook it up for you
— Will Smith (@will_smith30) July 26, 2020
Finally, here’s the Phillie Phanatic using cutouts for comedy:
Phanatic doing his best to get the fans phired up😤 pic.twitter.com/TlEtdybdQi
— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 26, 2020
This is all awesome and delightfully entertaining.
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