Little Pirates Fan Finds Truth During 18-Inning Game

Baseball is the best sport because every time the players step on the field, they do so with the understanding that they don’t know exactly when they will be able to go home. The same can’t be said of the fans in the seats, who are allowed to give in to their weaknesses and leave before a winner has been declared. But there are some fans who do not fear the outer dark, fans who will fight sleep and starvation to remain in their seats as the innings tick well past nine. These are the only fans who ever truly know themselves.

The Pirates beat the Nationals 2-1 in 18 innings yesterday. The game took five hours and 48 minutes to complete, and the hero of the day was not Daniel Murphy, who tied the game with a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, or Starling Marte, who won the game with a solo shot in the top of the 18th, but rather this little guy right here (mobile users turn phone sideways or click here for video):

You will have to face a great many things over the course of an 18-inning baseball game. You will face true anguish:

You will face exhaustion:

You will grow delirious:

You will face a black, crushing ennui:

But eventually, you shall achieve enlightenment:

This is a good fan.