Detroit Tigers: When Baseballs and Food Collide

ARLINGTON, TX - A grasshopper eats a piece of popcorn during a game between the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - A grasshopper eats a piece of popcorn during a game between the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Detroit Tigers Food Collision: Prince Fielder and the Nachos

On September 19, 2013 the Detroit Tigers held a six-game lead in the American League Central. Doug Fister was on the mound against the Seattle Mariners, pitching to rookie backstop Mike Zunino. The young catcher popped up a 1-2 slider, but Prince Fielder took a circuitous route to the ball and it fell harmlessly in foul territory. Fielder’s momentum carried him to the stands, where he seized the opportunity to pilfer a fan’s nachos.

In addition to reinforcing negative stereotypes about plump men, Prince Fielder’s actions also seemed to anger the nacho gods. Zunino singled shortly thereafter, then Carlos Triunfel singled, and Dustin Ackley followed with a 3-run homer to give Seattle a 4-3 lead. Fortunately Fister stayed in the game long enough to let Fielder make amends by knocking in the tying run in the 8th, and then scoring the eventual game-winning run. The nacho gods are tough, but fair.