Met-Phillies game delayed because of chewing tobacco incident
Apr 27, 2013, 7:10 PM | Updated: 7:27 pm
Major League Baseball games get delayed all the time. Whether its due to weather, a light issue or a player injury, stoppages have become second nature in the sport.
Well, you can add umpire swallowing his chewing tobacco to the list of things that cause a break in the action.
Friday night’s game between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets was delayed 14 minutes in the bottom of the first inning because home plate umpire Brian O’Nora was reportedly suffering from “flulike” symptoms.
But you know those New York writers are never one to leave a stone unturned, and so this rumor started being passed around Citi Field.
Apparently… the press box said that O’Nora swallowed his chew…
— Kevin Cooney (@KevinCooney) April 26, 2013
O’Nora didn’t return to field after running through the Mets’ dugout, so there was no official word from the man himself.
If O’Nora was truly sick, we wish him a speedy recovery. If his exit was related to chewing tobacco, here’s a piece of advice: go for the Big League Chew next time.