Shaun Cunningham: Braves fan, father, hero. Okay, that might be a little dramatic, for the rest of us, but to his son Landon, I’m sure it’s the truth.
During the 2016 season, Shaun and his son Landon attended a Braves-Pirates Spring Training game in Florida, as a present for Landon’s eighth birthday. However, in the fifth inning of the game, Pirates outfielder Danny Ortiz accidentally let go of his bat and it went hurling into the stands. Without hesitation, Shaun extended his arm and saves Landon’s face, birthday, and smart phone.
Take a look:
@BiertempfelTrib The two frames showing just how close the bat was to the boy's head. pic.twitter.com/7VwnfWp8L1
— Christopher Horner (@Hornerfoto1) March 6, 2016
Tribune Review photographer Chris Horner captured the moment and Rob Biertempfel caught up with the heroic father after the game. You can read more about the father and son here.
Both Landon and Shaun are perfectly fine – just some bruises here and there – but they left the game with an excellent story and some viral attention around the web. Oh, and if you need some more reasons to think Shaun is a swell dude, you’ll be interested to know that he is both a former baseball player and current fireman. But I’m sorry ladies (and gentlemen), he’s taken.