A recent English Football League Two match between Grimsby and visiting Port Vale featured an incident that reminded some of the famous Randy Johnson pitch that obliterated a bird.
During the matchup, a seagull inadvertently assisted Grimsby Town against Port Vale by deflecting a ball into the path of a Grimsby player.
The bizarre incident occurred in the 26th minute when a Grimsby defender’s long clearance struck the seagull, leading to a quick pass forward.
Shortly thereafter, the same squad would score three goals to secure a 3-0 victory. And the seagull was named MVP of the game.
Okay, that last part isn’t true, but it would have been hilarious.
Check out the wild scene below.
When a seagull gets a touch of the ball…
— Sky Bet League Two (@SkyBetLeagueTwo) December 30, 2024
He's good in the air but also handy on the wing etc etc pic.twitter.com/aaCoKcZmuX
Soccer Seagull Incident Reminiscent Of Randy Johnson
Watching the soccer ball strike a seagull mid-game calls to mind the famous incident in which MLB pitcher Randy Johnson exploded a dove with one of his 100 mph pitches.
During a spring training game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants in 2001, Johnson, a Hall of Famer known for his towering height and fearsome fastball, hit a bird with one of his pitches.
Johnson threw a fastball, which was traveling at an estimated speed between 100 to 103 mph when it collided with a mourning dove flying across the field. The result? An explosion of feathers.
Unlike the seagull in this soccer game, the dove had absolutely no chance of surviving and was most certainly killed on impact.
20 years ago today, Randy Johnson hit a bird with his fastball. Never forget. pic.twitter.com/nKezbs6nuT
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) March 24, 2021
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Another Bird Incident
In an incredible coincidence, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen, as he was warming up during a pre-game routine in 2023, also struck a bird with a pitch.
While warming up in the outfield, Gallen’s curveball struck the bird in mid-flight, leading to its unfortunate demise.
It was certainly not as devastating a pitch as the Randy Johnson incident, but unfortunately for our fine-feathered friend, the result was the same.
Zac Gallen kills bird doing his best Randy Johnson impersonation @zacgallen23 pic.twitter.com/4tKa42tToI
— The CBR Show (@CraftBeerReview) May 17, 2023
Will PETA call for animal cruelty charges and consider a lawsuit for the soccer player who struck the seagull, as they – unbelievably – did when Johnson hit the dove? As if they have any control over where a bird decides to fly.
As for Grimsby, the win, aided by an assist from the bird, helped move them up to fifth in the league standings, level on points with Port Vale in fourth.
More about:Soccer News
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