Woman speaks out after being misidentified as ‘Phillies Karen’ who snatched home run ball from kid

A woman has been forced to deny that she is the ‘Phillies Karen’ who was seen taking a home run ball from a kid at a baseball game on Friday.

The incident – which has since gone viral – took place during a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park in Florida.

The Phillies centre fielder Harrison Bader hit a home run into left field, sending fans scrabbling for a souvenir.

A man emerged with the ball, gifting it to his young son, but then the Phillies Karen intervened.

Who is the Phillies Karen?

The woman went straight up to the man and started shouting at him, demanding the ball.

Reluctantly, the man gave it to her, although she was roundly booed and reportedly left the stadium a few minutes later.

It’s remarkably similar to the incident where a millionaire stole a cap from a young fan at the US Open tennis recently – although he later apologized and expressed deep regret for his actions.

After the fact, the family who had the ball taken from them has spoken about the incident, including a heartbreaking admission from the youngster who was given the ball that they ‘can’t win’ and that ‘she was going to get it anyway’.

Since the incident, the race has been on to identify the woman behind this furore.

So far, two suspects have been identified, but neither is correct.

On X this weekend, a woman called Cheryl Richardson-Wagner was forced to put out a statement confirming that it wasn’t her.

Luckily, it seems she saw the funny side.

“Ok everyone… I’m NOT the crazy Philly Mom (but I sure would love to be as thin as she is and move as fast)…” she said.

She the added: “And I’m a Red Sox fan.”

Then, she changed her profile picture to a Red Sox crest, as if to close the matter.

In another comment, she wrote: “I imagine I’ll be receiving apologies from all the people who have been harrassing me all day,

“I wasn’t anywhere near Florida last night, never mind a Phillies game in Florida.”

A second denial has followed

After that denial, a New Jersey school district put out its own statement after speculation that one of its employees was the mysterious ‘Phillies Karen’.

It had been suggested that she was a ‘school administrator’ for Hammonton Public Schools, but they were quick to deny that.

The statement read: “The woman identified on social media as ‘Phillies Karen’ is not, and has never been an employee of the Hammonton Public Schools located in Hammonton, New Jersey.

“Social media and news reports indicating that she is, are incorrect.

“Anyone who works for our school district, attended as a student or lives in our community would obviously have caught the ball bare-handed in the first place, avoiding this entire situation.”

So, the search continues – but the internet doesn’t usually admit defeat when it comes to stuff like this.