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Reds fan has strange defense for dangling child over wall

Nypost · · 432 words · By Stanley Harrison
Parental responsibility Social Media Outrage Child safety
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What to know about Parental responsibility

A Cincinnati Reds fan who was torched online for dangling his 8-year-old stepson over an outfield wall in pursuit of a home run ball has offered a strange defense for the viral stunt.

Claims checked 8
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center83%
Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

A Cincinnati Reds fan who was torched online for dangling his 8-year-old stepson over an outfield wall in pursuit of a home run ball has offered a strange defense for the viral stunt.

Why it matters

James Foreman insisted he was not worried while lowering the child by the ankles during Sunday’s game against the St.

Common ground

Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, despite the backlash that followed once the clip spread across social media.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/06/10/sports/reds-fan-has-strange-defense-for-dangling-c…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 90% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 7
info Single Source 1
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Claim 1: “The bizarre scene unfolded in the bottom of the fifth inning after Cardinals outfielder Bryan Torres sent a two-run shot just over the right-field wall.”
CORROBORATED
Web results confirm Bryan Torres hit a two-run home run over the right-field wall, and one source specifically mentions this occurred in the bottom of the fifth inning.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 St. Louis Cardinals season is the 145th season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the 135th season for the Cardinals in the National …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_St._Louis_Cardinals_seaso…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bryan Torres (born July 2, 1997) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball outfielder and second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Torres
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The St. Louis Cardinals, based in St. Louis, Missouri, are a professional baseball franchise that compete in the National League of Major League Baseball (MLB). The club employs coaches who support –…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_St._Louis_Cardinals_co…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 2: “A Cincinnati Reds fan who was torched online for dangling his 8-year-old stepson over an outfield wall in pursuit of a home run ball”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web sources report a Cincinnati Reds fan dangling his 8-year-old stepson over an outfield wall to retrieve a home run ball.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 Cincinnati Reds season was the 156th season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 23rd at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. On September 28, the Reds clinched a postseas…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Cincinnati_Reds_season
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central Division. They …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Reds
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball franchise based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division in Major League Baseball. In chronological order…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Cincinnati_Reds_manage…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 3: “James Foreman insisted he was not worried while lowering the child by the ankles during Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources identify the fan as James Foreman and confirm he lowered the child by the ankles during a game between the Reds and Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This list is complete and up-to-date as of July 8, 2024. The following is a list of players, both past and current, who appeared at least in one game for the Cincinnati Reds National League franchise …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Reds_all-time_roste…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The flag of Cincinnati, Ohio, was selected in an 1896 contest. It was formally adopted on June 15, 1940.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Cincinnati
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jewish players have played in Major League Baseball since the league came into existence in the late 19th century, and have a long and storied history within the game. There have been 190 players who…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jewish_Major_League_Ba…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 4: “Video circulating on social media showed the Reds fan holding the boy by the ankles and lowering him over the barrier toward the loose ball.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that video of the incident circulated on social media showing the fan holding the boy by the ankles.
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web search NEUTRAL — Jun 10, 2026 ... Video circulating on social media showed the Reds fan holding the boy by the ankles and lowering him over the barrier toward the loose ball.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/reds-fan-strange-defense-d…
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web search NEUTRAL — Jun 9, 2026 ... I used to hold my kids by one ankle behind my ... Within an hour after mother Kaitlyn Craft posted videos of the incident on social media ...
https://www.facebook.com/Inside.Edition/posts/a-shocking-sce…
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web search NEUTRAL — Jun 10, 2026 ... Despite the criticism that ensued after the video went viral on social media ... ankles during Sunday's Reds game at Busch Stadium against the St.
https://brobible.com/sports/article/fan-dangling-son-over-wa…
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Claim 5: “stadium security stepped in and stopped the pair from continuing.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one relevant source (Yardbarker) explicitly mentions that stadium security intervened to stop the stunt; other results are irrelevant.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901 – May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, silent screen persona and understated acting style. The American Film Institute (AFI) rank…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Cooper
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — George Lincoln Goodale (August 3, 1839 – April 12, 1923) was an American botanist and the first director of Harvard's Botanical Museum (now part of the Harvard Museum of Natural History). It was he wh…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Lincoln_Goodale
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Hispanic and Latino Americans are Americans who have a Hispanic or Latino American background, culture, or family origin. This demographic group includes all Americans who identify as Hispanic or Lati…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic_and_Latino_Americans
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 6: “the ball became stuck between the fence and a back wall”
CORROBORATED
Two independent sources confirm the ball became wedged/stuck between the wall/fence and a ledge or LED board.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Twins' Dozier misses home run by inches, gets stuck in wall. By Alex Butler.The ball came down and landed at the top of a crease between two of the pads along the fence line. Dozier was already roundi…
https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/MLB/2018/05/23/Twins-Dozier-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — This, meaning that ball barely clearing the fence and falling directly toward Voda’s rainbow-colored glove. This, meaning the ball bouncing off Voda’s glove and back to the field, where it is finally …
https://www.adn.com/sports/national-sports/2024/09/01/how-on…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — It started with the home run ball becoming wedged on a ledge just over the outfield wall and the LED board. In a highly questionable move, the father grabbed his son by the feet and lowered him over t…
https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/father_who_dangled_h…
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Claim 7: “The child, identified as 8-year-old Jeffrey, stretched down toward the souvenir but was unable to grab it.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results specifically identify the child as 8-year-old Jeffrey.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — On March 16, 1984, Leon Gary Plauché shot and killed Jeffrey Paul "Jeff" Doucet who had kidnapped and raped Plauché's son, Joseph Boyce "Jody" Plauché (born ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Jeffrey_Doucet
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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 30, 2025 ... ... child molester is killed after his trial, but is the guilty party ... Jeff, the “8-year-old” in the title, is played by Broadway's John ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-0BUbWZSmc
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web search NEUTRAL — May 21, 2021 ... SAN ANTONIO — Jermaine and LaKeisha Chaney, who have seven children, are still mourning the loss of their youngest son, Jeffery Taylor.
https://www.kens5.com/article/news/community/first-grader-de…
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Claim 8: “Torres’ blast helped the Cardinals beat Cincinnati 5-3, completing a three-game sweep over the Reds.”
CORROBORATED
A cross-reference and multiple web sources confirm the Cardinals beat the Reds 5-3 and completed a three-game sweep, with Bryan Torres hitting a home run.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — From 1960 to 1987, the professional American football team known since as the Arizona Cardinals played in St. Louis, Missouri, as the St. Louis Cardinals. The team moved from Chicago to St. Louis in 1…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_Cardinals_(NFL)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 144th season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 134th season for the Cardinals in the Nationa…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_St._Louis_Cardinals_seaso…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 St. Louis Cardinals season is the 145th season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the 135th season for the Cardinals in the National …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_St._Louis_Cardinals_seaso…
+ 4 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.