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St. Louis Cardinals Show Off Possible Donald Trump-Inspired Home Run Celebration

After Alec Burleson hit a home run Sunday afternoon, players in the St. Louis Cardinals' dugout grabbed their ears and held up fists like Donald Trump did after getting shot last weekend.

Sam Connon

Jul 14, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Alec Burleson (41) celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Busch Stadium.
Jul 14, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Alec Burleson (41) celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Busch Stadium. / Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
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The St. Louis Cardinals just debuted an interesting celebration.

In the second inning of Sunday afternoon's game against the Atlanta Braves, designated hitter Alec Burleson took starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach deep for a solo home run. As Burleson was trotting around the bases, the Bally Sports broadcast cut to the Cardinals' dugout and showed multiple players holding their right ears and raising up their left fists.

Burleson looked their way, smiled and made the same motion as he rounded third base.

Whether or not it was intentional, the gesture looked eerily similar to the one former United States president Donald Trump made following his assassination attempt on July 13. Trump was shot in the right ear by a lone gunman at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and it didn't take long for a photo of him holding up his fist while being escorted off stage to go viral.

Burleson's home run and the ensuing team celebration came just 30 minutes after current United States president Joe Biden announced he would not be seeking re-election later this year. Trump, meanwhile, just accepted his nomination at the Republican National Committee on Thursday.

The Cardinals went on to defeat the Braves 6-2, claiming the series victory over their National League foes. Burleson finished the day 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run.

Burleson, a 25-year-old from North Carolina, was a top-five prospect in St. Louis' farm system entering 2023. After a lackluster rookie campaign last year, the outfielder is now batting .294 with 18 home runs, 59 RBI, seven stolen bases, an .824 OPS and a 1.4 WAR in 2024.

The Cardinals are now 52-47 on the season, putting them in line for an NL Wild Card spot.

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a Staff Writer for Fastball on the Sports Illustrated/FanNation networks. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's All Bruins, 247Sports' Bruin Report Online, Rivals' Bruin Blitz, the Bleav Podcast Network and the Daily Bruin, with his work as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk.

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