During a recent episode of his “Deuces Wild” podcast, former MLB outfielder Eric Byrnes shared a story from his playing days that illustrates how a young employee of the Oakland Athletics took advantage of his own uniform and a borrowed vehicle to deceive two women.
Impersonation at a Red Light
According to Byrnes, the incident began when the former bat boy was stopped at a traffic light in the Bay Area. Two women pulled up beside his car, a Cadillac Escalade owned by his mother, and shouted, “Eric Byrnes! Eric Byrnes!” The bat boy, recognizing the opportunity, responded affirmatively and continued the charade.
Byrnes said the men’s misunderstanding allowed the bat boy to pursue a sexual encounter with one of the women. “The girls are like, ‘Eric Byrnes! Eric Byrnes!’ and he’s like, ‘Yeah, what’s up?’” Byrnes recalled. “He ends up getting his knob polished. I’m not kidding. The whole time, this chick thinks it’s f—ing me.”
Byrnes Confronts the Deception
When the bat boy later confessed that he had pretended to be Byrnes, the former star reacted sharply. “He told me, and I’m like, ‘Bro, no! What the f—, you can’t do that,’” Byrnes said. “And sure enough, we made an agreement: nice work, congratulations, don’t ever f—ing do it again.”
Byrnes, who is perhaps best known for his 2005 incident in which he tackled a fan who ran onto the outfield grass during a game against the New York Yankees, chose to give the young man a warning rather than pursue legal action. He emphasized that the behavior was unacceptable and that the bat boy should not repeat it.
Broader Context of Sports Impersonation
The story comes at a time when other high‑profile impersonation schemes are making headlines. Social‑media influencer Daejon Love was recently indicted on federal charges for allegedly running a $1.3 million romance scam that involved forging banking apps, custom gear, and staged videos to convince at least 26 women that he played for the San Francisco 49ers.
Both cases highlight how the allure of professional sports status can be exploited for personal gain, often at the expense of unsuspecting individuals. While Byrnes’ encounter ended with a personal reprimand, the Love case is moving forward in federal court, where the alleged perpetrator will have to answer to serious fraud allegations.
Takeaway for Fans and Aspiring Athletes
Byrnes’ recounting serves as a reminder that the credibility that comes with a team uniform or a recognizable name should never be used to deceive or manipulate others. For teams and organizations, it underscores the importance of clear policies and training for staff members who interact with the public.
As the sports world continues to grapple with issues of personal conduct and accountability, stories like this one provide a cautionary tale about the consequences of misusing a public persona for personal advantage.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
