Barry Larkin: "I just had to wear it for a little bit. … It wasn't just that it was on the turf. It was the hot turf. Fumes coming up."
FanDuel Sports Network analyst and National Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin alluded during the Miami Marlins-Cincinnati Redsseries opener to a story about former Reds owner Marge Schott's Saint Bernard dog, Schottzie.
The Reds hosted a Bark in the Park night during the game. He and John Sadak spoke during the broadcast about a dog involved in the ceremonial first pitch who ran around on the field and evaded everyone for about two minutes.
"Schottzie would get loose sometimes on the field before the game," Larkin said during the broadcast. "Owner Marge Schott - rest her soul. And this big St. Bernard would decide right before the anthem it was time to relieve herself. … And of course there's no time to come out and properly clean the field. So a shovel and a little (spray). Let's play ball, boys. A couple of them (hit my way that day). I did (have to dive). Rick Stowe had a new jersey for me when I got in eventually off the field. I just had to wear it for a little bit. … It wasn't just that it was on the turf. It was the hot turf. Fumes coming up."
Larkin told the story several years ago at the former Green Diamond Gallery in Montgomery.
"We're playing in St. Louis one day and Schottzie gets away from the handler during the national anthem," Larkin said in 2016. "Schottzie runs over to shortstop and takes a huge dump. Grounds crew comes out to clean up the poop. They don't have time to take the sand and cover everything up. So I'm playing shortstop, and if I have to dive, I'm not playing in that."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Barry Larkin shares Schottzie Riverfront Stadium turf poop story
Category: Baseball
