Summary of Verified Facts
1. The Viral Incident (September 5, 2025)
During a Phillies vs. Marlins game at LoanDepot Park, Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader hit a home run. A father caught the ball and gave it to his son Lincoln—celebrating his birthday. However, a woman then approached, claimed the ball was hers, and took it, leaving Lincoln visibly upset. The moment ignited viral outrage on social media
2. Misidentification: Cheryl Richardson-Wagner
Social media users quickly labeled the woman in the video as Cheryl Richardson-Wagner. One such individual—a 67-year-old companion/social services worker affiliated with Bayada Nurses in Moorestown, New Jersey—was thrust into the spotlight because her LinkedIn profile highlighted traits like patience and compassion, which many found painfully ironic in light of the incident.
3. Public Denial
This Cheryl Richardson-Wagner stepped forward on Facebook and firmly stated she is not the woman seen in the video. With a humorous tone, she clarified:
“I’m NOT the crazy Philly Mom (though I’d love to be as thin as she is and move that fast)… and I’m a Red Sox fan.” She also wondered aloud if she’d receive apologies once the actual culprit was identified.
4. Rumors of Firing Debunked
Circulating reports claiming that she had been fired from a job at Hammonton Public Schools in New Jersey were swiftly debunked. The district released a statement saying she has never worked for them, emphasizing the misinformation online.
One district spokesperson even remarked (somewhat tongue-in-cheek): anyone associated with their schools “would obviously have caught the ball bare-handed in the first place”
5. Positive Outcome for Lincoln
In a silver lining, the Marlins team offered Lincoln a gift bag, and Harrison Bader later gave him a signed bat—helping turn a distressing moment into a cherished memory Indiatimes+1.
