Some sad news out of NewBridge Bank Park, where the Miss Lou Lou Gehrig, K-9 Bat and Ball Dog for the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Low A; Sally League), is out for the season after being treated for malabsorption and has been advised to rest until she fully recovers.
“Lou Lou has done a great job filling in for Babe this year and we hope she feels better and gets her strength back real soon,” said Grasshoppers President and General Manager Donald Moore.
“The dogs are such a huge part of our nightly entertainment,” Moore continued, “that Miss Babe Ruth is considering coming out of retirement and filling in for Lou Lou for our last several games. Babe will put in some practice time, see how she feels, and we will make a decision in the next day or so as to her availability.”
Miss Babe worked 649 consecutive games since making her debut August 2, 2006 and retired September 2, 2015. This season she has worked as a Special Assistant to the Team President and also as an ambassador, greeting fans on the concourse during games.
“I know Babe has missed being on the field this season but we won’t put her out there unless we are sure she is still physically capable, said Moore. “Once we see her work out a couple of times we will be able to answer that question.”
The team estimates that Babe delivered over 3,500 baseballs to umpires and retrieved upwards of 4,600 bats in her tenure. Her bucket is in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Indeed, seeing Miss Lou Lou Gehrig and Miss Babe Ruth in action at a Grasshoppers game is one of the great things about Minor League Baseball. It’s hard to say who is having the most fun: the families in the stands or the dog fetching out on the field.