Finn The Bat Dog, Las Vegas Aviators Star, To Retire Friday
The Las Vegas Aviators always bring a good time and a great game to Las Vegas Ballpark in Downtown Summerlin. But the one player that might be the best of all is a black lab by the name of Finn The Bat Dog. The pup has been trotting out to the field to collect Louisville Sluggers left over by minor league baseball batters since 2018.
But on Friday, April 19th, after dozens of appearances at the plate, Finn will be hanging up the leash forever. The pup is retiring from the team on Finn The Bat Dog Jersey Night at the age of 12 – or 74 in dog years.
Finn The Bat Dog Made Headlines From The Start
One of the first things to ever happen inside Las Vegas Ballpark was the boo heard across the valley. The Las Vegas Aviators were facing off against the Sacramento River Cats on April 9th, 2019. This was the first game ever at the new digs. Obviously, the audience was jam packed, and Finn was at their best behavior.
So Finn did what Finn does, and went to retrieve a bat. The umpire, likely in a fit of rage because he is more partial to cats, cut Finn off at the pass, grabbed the bat away from Finn and chucked it off to the dugout.
Might be the loudest boo in the history of umpire’s. I still love you guys though!! @MiLB @SportsCenter @MLB @AviatorsLV @LVBallpark @notthefakeSVP #umpire pic.twitter.com/ACsm88seKi
— Finn The Bat Dog (@finnthebatdog) April 10, 2019
What a heel move! The crowd reacted in a thunderous boo that could be heard from Las Vegas to the world when ESPN talked about it.
Since then, Finn has been a mainstay at Aviators games, and upon learning that the lovable pup was calling it quits our hearts broke.
Finn The Bat Dog Jersey Night This Friday
Tonight, the Aviators will be throwing Finn a goodbye party of sorts. It is Finn The Bat Dog Jersey Night, as the Oakland Athletics minor league affiliate faces off for their fourth of six games against Tacoma. That umpire better behave.