Making contact with an official is perhaps the biggest no-no in sports. Everyone knows that.
But that didn’t stop Springfield Cardinals manager Mike Shildt from throwing a helmet at an umpire during a recent game.
Judging by Shildt’s reaction upon plunking the ump, you can tell that the Cards skipper clearly didn’t mean to intentionally hit him. However, the damage was done, and the incident was enough to land Shildt a three-game suspension.
“Unfortunate is the best way to say it,” Cardinals general manager Matt Gifford said. “He’s taking the suspension, and I think the league is well within their rights to do that.”
The Springfield Cardinals are the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Shildt is eligible to return for Tuesday night’s game against Arkansas.
The incident can be seen in the video below, which comes complete with commentary from some young spectators. Fast forward to around the 1:05 mark to check it out.
