Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ committed an embarrassing baserunning blunder early in his team’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.
Happ led off the game with a single in the first inning of Chicago’s 3-0 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. Two batters later, Seiya Suzuki hit a deep fly ball to right field that Happ thought was going to be out of reach for Cardinals outfielder Alec Burleson.
Burleson made a great catch, which sent Happ scrambling to retreat back to first. Happ made it back in plenty of time, but he forgot one very important step.
Happ had touched second base, which meant he had to retouch it on his way back to first. He did not make an effort to do so, and the Cardinals wisely appealed for the third out to end the inning.
Hell of a catch from Alec Burleson and the Cardinals double up Ian Happ because he didn't retouch second base pic.twitter.com/u1dJXjXB3E
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 26, 2025
It would have been one thing if Happ just missed second base on his way back. What was particularly embarrassing was that he seemed to forget the rule. That is not a great look for a nine-year MLB veteran.
Fortunately for Happ, the mistake did not prove costly for the Cubs. They went on to win, though there was some unexpected drama after the final out of the game.
