The MLB’s rule on bird interference is as follows:
If a batted or thrown ball strikes a bird in flight or other animal on the playing field, consider the ball alive and in play the same as if it had not touched the bird or animal. If a pitched ball strikes a bird in flight or other animal on the playing field the pitch is nullified and play shall be resumed with the previous count.
If the Houston Astros can steal signs, why can’t a team employ a falconer in the stands whom releases a falcon to disrupt catchable fly balls?
Strategically placed in the top tier of every baseball stadium will be a falconer. Upon his arm is a cowhide gauntlet which sits a falcon, keen eyes surveying the masses of humans buying peanuts and crackers jacks who morbidly don’t care if they ever get back.
More importantly the falconer and falcon hone in on the game itself. The pitcher expertly places a ball high in the strike zone, the batter swings with all his might, the bottom of the ball connects with the top of the bat. The baseball sails skyward like a rocket but makes minimal forward movement. As the ball slowly meanders to the apex of its journey shy of the clouds, it begins to fall practically straight down. The ball is falling 15 feet to the left of second base. The shortstop has easily gotten into position, using the glove as a shield from the sun he lines himself perfectly underneath the ball for an easy out.
Then the falconer releases his brother-in-arms. The falcon spreads its wings, a loose feather spins off into the air currents to eventually land upon a child’s baseball cap in the front row. But while that feather slowly falls the falcon is on the hunt. It flexes its talon in anticipation. The ball falls at the speed of gravity but the falcon dives at the speed of murder. He’s closing in on his prey. The falcon releases a mighty caw as razor sharp talons sink into the seams gripping the rubber-coated cork in the center piercing through the very soul of the baseball.
The shortstop closes his glove but there is no ball to catch.
The falcon soars through center field and over the wall dropping the ball into a sea of cheering fans. A kid catches the ball in his empty crackerjack box. Home run! The Yankees beat the Blue Jays in the bottom of the 19th inning! Maybe they should have named their team after a stronger bird.
As an $11 billion a year industry, the MLB is always innovating their game. In the 1850s the game used to be played until a team reached 21 runs until they introduced the 9-inning structure. The batter’s box was introduced in the 1870s. In 1900 home plate went from a square to a five-sided base. By 1925, the minimum home run distance was set at 250 feet. In the 1950s the strike zone was redefined. In 1963 the strike zone was enlarged. In 1969 the strike zone was shrunken. It was only by 1978 that pitchers couldn’t purposefully throw at the batter. In 2023 the pitch clock was added to the game. And finally, there is no reason why the 2026 season cannot see the introduction of falcons and falconers.