- Welch’s appearance throwing out the first pitch at a Mets game just over a month ago drew a ton of backlash
- The Mets lost to the Athletics that day but have since turned their form around
- The Mets have overtaken the Braves for the final Wild Card spot heading into the final two weeks of the season
It may have been a move that prompted a ferocious tidal wave of criticism, but ‘Hawk Tuah Girl’ Hailey Welch may just have been the unlikely good luck charm the New York Mets needed to turn their season around.
The viral sensation, who shot to internet superstardom with her very candid advice on how to keep a man happy, was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the series finale between the Mets and the Oakland Athletics on August 15. The backlash was immediate and fierce, with Mets fans and pundits alike criticising the organisation for inviting Welch to Citi Field.
Welch, for her part, responded to the criticism admirably, opting against lashing out at her detractors, and instead drawing attention to the causes she was hoping to spread awareness of, namely America’s Vet dogs, which pairs dogs with war veterans for their forever home.
Taking to X, Welch said, “So I guess some of the baseball community wasn’t too happy to see me yesterday.
“The main reason I went to the game was to spread awareness and donate to America’s vet dogs which pairs dogs with war veterans for a forever home.
“Join me in donating to this amazing charity. I miss ya already Buddy.”
And while the Mets would go onto lose against the Athletics on the day, they have since embarked on an impressive 19-9 run, including a nine game winning streak, leaving Carlos Mendoza’s team in the wild card berth in the National League East.
It is a run of form that the Mets will be hoping to take into the final games of the season, including their upcoming series against the Phillies this week, in a series that has been attributed to helping expand MLB into the United Kingdom. The two east coast outfits played out the London Series earlier this year, leading to the BBC now airing three consecutive Sunday broadcasts between now and the end of the season, followed by two early October broadcasts featuring four postseason games.
The Mets could potentially be a part of those broadcasts, especially if their post-Welch luck continues. It is a run of form that has seen renowned radio host Peter Rosenberg call out the “jabronis” and “gasbags” who were so up in arms over Welch’s appearance at Citi Field in August.
“When will the yo-yos apologize?” Rosenberg asked. “The yo-yo sports talk jabronis. The ones who are like walking stereotypes of our business. What’s the word? The gasbags. When will the gasbags come out and say sorry to Haliey Welch, a.k.a., formerly—’cuz she’s beyond it now—formerly, ‘Hawk Tuah Girl.’ When will they give her her credit? Because guess what? This team’s been rolling post-Hawk Tuah.”
Prior to Welch’s first pitch appearance in August, the Mets had lost 10 out of their previous 17 games. Now revived and with postseason within touching distance, they could do a lot worse than bring the viral sensation back for a second pitch.
The Mets’ remaining schedule sees them take on the Washington Nationals over the next three days, before four games against the division leading Phillies. Following that they wrap the season up with series against the Braves and the Brewers. Can the ‘Hawk Tuah’ momentum maintain itself into a wild card place, though?
(h/t Sports Illustrated)
