“Ham Fighters” Benched By Swine Flu! (Seriously!)
SAPPORO (Japan) – The entire roster of the Nippon Ham Fighters baseball team has been quarantined and is undergoing tests for exposure to H1N1 influenza after three members of the squad contracted the virus. (EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re not making this up.)
In a related story, the dugout of the Hiroshima Carp smells, well, kinda "fishy".
Among the players taking ill with piggy fever was former San Diego Padres reserve/washout Terrmel “Sister” Sledge. Coach Junichi Fukura and pitcher Naoki Miyanishi were also diagnosed with the bug, and reportedly as many as six other players complained of a high fever. This resulted in the entire team and coaching staff being ordered to check in at a local Sapporo hospital for screening.
To this point. the Fighters have ruled out cancelling games and will continue to play, albeit under a ban from making contact with fans of any sort, resulting in the suspension of pre-game autograph sessions.
Sledge was the top-performing “gaijin” (non-Japanese player) for the Fighters in 2008, and is batting .254 this season with 16 HR and 52 RBI in 78 games.
August 20, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Baseballbriefs.com tracking back “Ham Fighters” Benched By Swine Flu! (Seriously!)…
Baseballbriefs.com tracking back “Ham Fighters” Benched By Swine Flu! (Seriously!)…