(Reuters) – A Philadelphia Phillies fan and his emotional support alligator Wally were denied entry into a Major League Baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
The fan, identified by the Philadelphia Inquirer as Joie Henney, arrived at Citizens Bank Park walking Wally on a leash, claiming the nearly five-foot alligator as his service animal.
The stadium’s policy on support animals on the Phillies official website states: “Certified service dogs or service dogs in training for guests with special needs are welcome. All other animals are prohibited.”
In 1945, William Sianis put a curse on the Chicago Cubs when he and his goat were denied entry into a World Series game.
Outraged at not being able to watch his beloved Cubs, Sianis placed “The Curse of the Billy Goat” on the team saying they would never again win a World Series.
The Cubs would not play in another World Series for 71 years, the curse finally broken in 2016 when the team celebrated their first championship in 108 years.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Ken Ferris)
