The River City Rascals felt the power of social media Thursday, and it must have felt pretty embarrassing.
Less than a day after word circulated on Twitter and Facebook that the Rascals, an independent minor league team based in O'Fallon, Mo., would be charging players and coaches $5 for every baseball they tossed into the stands, the club changed its mind.
"We have reversed it but won't be discussing it any further at ownership's request," general manager Dan Dial said in a statement.
A photograph of a dugout sign that was put up to announce the Rascals' short-lived policy was posted on Twitter on Wednesday night. "Also, please refrain from conversing with fans on this policy," the sign concluded.
As you can imagine, it didn't go over well with fans.
@ggiombarrese @darrenrovell That's a shame. As someone who worked there from 02-04, this flies in the face of a fun family atmosphere.
— Phil Giubileo (@philgpbp) July 25, 2013
It's not the first time the team has gotten media attention, as it reportedly once traded a player for six hotel rooms.
