KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Milwaukee Brewers are known for their quirky traditions. After the popular “pocket pancakes,” they’ve now added a new mascot to their lineup—meet the pocket tortoise.
Yes, you read that right: tortoise.
Let’s break down this amusing tale.
Last August, during a game against the Nationals, Brewers manager Pat Murphy found himself in the spotlight for a rather unexpected reason. In the middle of a live dugout interview, he casually pulled a pancake from his hoodie pocket for a quick snack. Murphy’s penchant for pocket-sized treats is no secret, as he’s been seen indulging in everything from waffles to egg rolls during games.
The incident quickly caught the internet’s attention, as it was broadcasted on national television. Seizing the opportunity, the Brewers capitalized on the viral moment by offering “Murph’s Pocket Pancakes” during Sunday home games at American Family Field.
Now, let’s circle back to the tortoise.
The Brewers were supposed to play the Royals on Friday night on Apple TV, though the game was called 90 minutes before first pitch because of the rain. During a pregame interview with Apple’s reporter, Tricia Whitaker, Murphy said he was informed “under no uncertain circumstances, no pocket pancakes” during their talk, so he pulled out what was supposed to be a pocket turtle.
“This is Bobby Jr.,” Murphy said in presenting it to her, having named the creature after his longtime friend, Bobby Witt, and his son, Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. “I didn’t want to pull out pancakes so here we are.”
Whitaker posted the moment on social media, and fans immediately informed her that the reptile was not, in fact, a pocket turtle — or any turtle. It was a tortoise, or more specifically a Sulcata tortoise, which can live 70 years and grow to 100 pounds.
“How am I supposed to fly this home?” Whitaker asked.
Good question.
Turns out, as Whitaker later posted on social media, American Airlines has “a strict no reptiles policy,” so Bobby Jr. had to stay behind in Kansas City. The agreement, she wrote, is that the club would keep the tortoise for the time being.
Indeed, the reptile was happily living under a heat lamp in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday, though the plan is to find Bobby Jr. a good home soon. He won’t be traveling with the club all season.
“It was suggested by one player,” Whitaker said, “that they get to keep the ‘rally turtle’ if they win today. If they lose, I am hoping, consideration will be given to send me the tortoise.”
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