We’ve been tasked to discuss an activist event in sports history, something like a protest or gesture of solidarity, but i’d to discuss a moment of unity through activism.
Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa provided a spontaneous and deeply emotional act during a baseball game in 2001 that touched the hearts of many Americans. It was the Cubs first home game after the 9/11 terrorist attack, and the US was shaken. Wrigley Field in Chicago was bustling with flags and American themed clothing brought and worn by fans to show their own support in this hard time. There was a strong sense of grief and sadness amongst everyone, but also a feeling of unity and patriotism starting to emerge stronger than ever.
Pre-game; As the Cubs took the field to play defense in the first inning, Sosa stormed out of the dugout carrying an American flag in his right hand, glove in the left. He ran out to the right field warning track and took a sharp left, waving the flag in front of the fans in the outfield. The crowd erupted with cheers and chants. You can even see some people brought to tears when watching back TV footage. This energy and activism didn’t conclude here though…
During the game, Sosa smacked a home run to center field, and first base coach Billy Williams handed him a flag as he rounded the bases, sending Wrigley field into a frenzy and filling the stadium with U-S-A chants. The story around it is great, as Sosa had been hitting home runs so frequently that they had planned to hide the flag in Williams sock, and when Sosa hit his next home run he would perform this emotional and patriotic gesture. It just so happened that Sosa homered in that same game.
This gesture has had a lasting impact, as nearly twenty one years later, Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán performed a similar act when taking the mound for his start on the anniversary of the event, 9/11/22. Germán was nine years old when he watched Sosa take the field with the flag, and recreated this by running out of the dugout with a flag showing his support to the country, people, and victims of the terrorist attack.
This event was nationally televised an a unifying moment at the time, and reached even more people through newspapers all over the country. It was pushed by the media because of its genuine and emotionally touching nature, and it probably brought even more attention to the game of baseball at this time. This moment has also shown serious relevancy even in the last few years, as almost every year on the anniversary of 9/11, MLB and sports account alike often re-share the original footage as a tribute to his gesture and the unity it provided.
This wasn’t a speech or statement, it was a spur of the moment gesture that touched the hearts of many Americans and certainly the sold-out crowd at Wrigley field. This moment of activism illustrates how deeply sports can serve as a unifying entity during national trauma.
Referenced Articles
https://www.mlb.com/news/domingo-german-honors-sammy-sosa-on-9-11-waves-american-flag