A Phillies fan tried to keep the real souvenir and still deliver the classic rivalry throwback, but the broadcast caught every step of the trick.
The moment came during Philadelphia 's 6-2 win over the Mets , when Carson Benge's home run briefly gave New York something to enjoy.
Instead, the fan in the stands became the clip everyone wanted to replay.
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images
A Jomboy Media post summed up the viral moment: "Phillies fan got caught red-handed throwing back a fake home run ball."
The NBC broadcast showed the fan, wearing a Bryce Harper jersey, celebrating after ending up with Benge's homer. In rivalry games, home fans often throw visiting home run balls back onto the field, and the crowd expected the same here.
But the fan appeared to reach down near his seat, grab another baseball and throw that one onto the outfield grass instead.
The real ball stayed with him, tucked safely in his glove, while the fake throwback created the illusion of loyalty to the Phillies crowd.
It did not last long. The camera stayed with him, and the broadcast called him out as the replay made the swap clear.
One fan asked the obvious question: "Who goes to a ball game with balls ready to throw back."
Another claimed a perfect view of the moment: "I'm right behind the kid – he thought he got away with it 🤣"
A third laughed at the failed act: "Caught red handed with the fake ball throwback 😂 Phillies fan trying to be a hero but got exposed! ⚾️😭."
The incident became funnier because it happened during a rough Mets night. Benge's homer was one of the few New York highlights as the Phillies won 6-2 and took the series.
David Peterson allowed five runs, four earned, across four innings, while Philadelphia's strong run continued after its early-season managerial change.
Next, the Mets return home for a seven-game homestand against the Cubs and Phillies, still chasing ground in the NL wild-card race. The Phillies, meanwhile, strengthened their own postseason position and left with both the win and the viral punchline.
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