OK. As Detroit fans, we would have liked to have seen that Boston cop in the bullpen at Fenway look more concerned about Torri Hunter injuring himself than jubilant about David Ortiz hitting a grand slam.
But that's Detroit fans.
In Boston, 50-year-old officer Steve Horgan, who raised his hands as if he were an NFL ref signaling a touchdown, quickly became a legend and overnight sensation on social media. He's now known as the "bullpen cop." His photo appeared on local front pages and major media sites nationwide. Sports Illustrated has a slow-motion GIF of the iconic scene. Boston radio host Stephen Donovan of WXLO-FM uses Horgan's celebratory reaction for his Facebook profile.
According to Masslive.com, ESPN Boston grabbed the South Walpole native right after the Sunday night game.
“I couldn’t even hear myself it was so loud,” Horgan said. “I can’t believe it. I don’t know what to think. I can’t believe it. It was an awesome feeling.”
“Oh, it was awesome. It was great. David Ortiz. Grand slam. It was great,” Horgan said.
Garrett Quinn of MassLive.com writes:
Horgan's celebration has morphed into a trend similar to "Tebowing" where people are posing for pictures with their arms raised up and posting it to social with the hashtag #horganing. The moment appears to have been best captured by Boston Globe photographer Stan Grossfield.
As for Hunter, he comments sarcastically (maybe) about what happened:
“I should have kicked him in the face. I want to thank the Red Sox bullpen for checking on me. That was awesome. . . . They put [the game] aside in favor of human life, unlike the cop. Protect and serve? They ought to take that off his badge.”
