The carnie life isn’t one I’d personally seek out. I don’t think many carnies do either, to be fair. I’m sure there’s some fun to be had, travelling across the country, eating a ton of Cracker Jack’s, and duping locals with their rigged games. Little did this carnie know, however, that he was in for a rough night when he got penciled in to work the dunk tank because he was at the mercy of one of the best MLB pitchers of this generation in Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Just like a regular carnival frequenter, Waino gave the attendee five bucks in exchange for two tries at hitting the small target. But unlike most people who stepped right up to the game that night, this particular customer certainly got his money’s worth when he fired a strike and sent that unlucky carnie into the drink.
No better time to start getting ready for spring training than at the fair. Enjoy your bath clown. pic.twitter.com/xzFGRonpWm
— Adam Wainwright (@UncleCharlie50) November 14, 2021
This video is great from start to finish. Waino’s got his buddy on the camera talkin’ smack as the four-time Cy Young finalist holds his palms up to the dunk tank carnie, displaying his weapon of choice while giving off body language that seems to be an apology for what’s about to happen to this poor kid. Then he swings both arms back as he begins an abbreviated Ross Ohlendorf-like windup and puts his first try right on the money. As Wainwright sees his victim take a soak of shame he emphatically puts the other ball back on the stand to show that one throw was all he needed to send this guy looking for a new pair of trousers.
39-year-old Adam Wainwright pitched a complete-game shutout on 88 pitches tonight! That’s what the folks call a Maddux pic.twitter.com/y1mlhHOVub
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 12, 2021
This carnie probably had no idea what he was in for when this unsuspecting, lanky, southern gentleman looked him dead in the eyes before making him wish he had another change of clothes on standby. This wasn’t your ordinary 6’7″ middle-aged dude in jeans and his finest q-zip hoodie, but rather a sixteen-year big league veteran starting pitcher who has a World Series ring and over 2000 career punchouts. This dude was just the latest in a long line of victims at the hands of a former first round pick who’s a month removed from a renaissance season where he won 17 games behind a 3.05 ERA and started the NL Wild Card game at fourty years old.
Imagine showing up to your shift at the dunk tank and your next challenger is a guy who’s made over $150 million solely based on his ability to throw a ball at a target? I’d be sick.
Adam Wainwright, Pretty 75mph Curveball. 🌈 pic.twitter.com/hriEOSYnNY
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 29, 2021
Adam Wainwright has already cemented himself as one of the best pitchers in Cardinals history with a real shot of being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame when he calls it a career. At this point Uncle Charlie is just having fun and it seems like there isn’t anything baseball-related that this guy can’t do. He can flash the leather as a two-time Gold Glover, has ten career bombs and a Silver Slugger under his belt, and an absolutely devastating curveball. Waino even did some games as a colour analyst during this postseason and he was a natural. This guy’s as accomplished as it gets and seems to love punking carnies by showing up and giving them a taste of his low 90s fastball.
Enjoy your bath, clown.
