Twins outfielder Torii Hunter turned out to have violated one of baseball's more serious rules when he sent four bottles of Dom Perignon champagne to the Kansas City Royals clubhouse to thank the Royals for sweeping the Tigers at the end of last season, which gave the Twins the division title.
Turns out that such gifts are prohibited by Rule 21 in baseball's code of conduct and is considered similar to bribing another player to perform well. So, instead of a three-year suspension, the Twins are sheepishly asking for the champagne back, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
The incident was first reported in the Kansas City Star and remarked on by Derek Zumsteg in his Cheater's Guide to Baseball Blog.
What if they already drank it? Are they allowed to buy four identical bottles and return those? Or would that be considered a separate gift, violating the rule a second time and forcing both teams to be suspended for three years?
During their upcoming series with Kansas City, the league will require all Royals players to visit the restroom at the Metrodome, and present a receipt to the league.
During their upcoming series with Kansas City, the league will require all Royals players to visit the restroom at the Metrodome, and present a receipt to the league.
When they tear down the Dome, will the Twins offer up the urinals at auction, like the Cards did with the ones in old Busch Stadium?
" .... the late great Kirby relieved himself in THIS very urinal after he hit the game 6 winning homer in '91! .... now it can be yours!"
(and sadly my brother would not let me take a picture of them. even after he had left the room. bah!)
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