Bad enough to get injured by an airborne hot dog. But a hot dog thrown by a goofy baseball mascot? That's grounds for a lawsuit. Or says a Kansas City man who is suing the hometown Royals over the 2009 incident, reports the AP. It seems that mascot Sluggerrr was chucking foil-wrapped hot dogs to fans during a game when one caught John Coomer in the eye. The 53-year-old has since needed two surgeries, including one to repair a detached retina.
The case has made its way to the Missouri Supreme Court, and it's not as clear-cut as you might think, explains the AP's Bill Draper. If for example, Coomer had been hit by a foul ball during the game, he probably would be out of luck because teams are protected from such lawsuits. But are they protected if a mascot causes the injury? That's the question the court must decide, and it's a safe bet that teams around the country are watching closely. (More strange stuff stories.)