Cardinals' celebration 'definitely not a political statement,' player says

St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Matt Carpenter addressed online speculation regarding his team’s recent celebration, stating multiple times that the gestures were in no way a political statement.

The team celebration came into question Sunday afternoon after an online outlet compared it to images that emerged shortly after an assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump on July 13.

Snippets of Alec Burleson’s home run trot and the subsequent dugout celebration appeared to show Burleson and many of his teammates cupping their ears with one hand while raising their opposite fists in the air.  Lars Nootbaar also made the gesture as he rounded the bases after his own home run one inning later.

Carpenter denied any political motivation and explained the celebration was meant to be a team joke with Burleson.

“Burleson is a former college rapper,” Carpenter said. “He’s been carrying us at the plate. (The celebration) is the furthest thing from a political statement.”

“It’s an inside joke with (Burleson),” Carpenter said. “This isn’t a political statement by any means. I don’t know where that came from.”

Carpenter said the gestures are intended to mimic a DJ as a reference to Burleson, who shares the team lead in home runs. Burleson was a rapper in college, and his teammates consistently refer to him by his rap name, “Biscuit” in the clubhouse.

Though the celebration came into question publicly on Sunday afternoon, Carpenter said the team had been doing it dating to the end of the first half of the season.

“It’s slowly catching on,” Carpenter said. “I don’t know who, or the first official guy to do it on the field, but it was for sure in the first half. It picked up steam in this series, for sure.

“Definitely not a political statement. I think that’s a little off-base here.” 

The Cardinals weren’t the only ones leaving viewers wondering about their celebrations. After stroking a double at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, Rays infielder Taylor Walls raised a fist and mouthed “fight, fight,” similar to Trump’s gesture just moments after his assassination attempt.

(Photo of Lars Nootbaar: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)