The Philadelphia Phillies’ trip to Miami on September 5, 2025, was meant to be a night of baseball, family, and celebration. Instead, it turned into a viral sensation that swept across the sports world, sparking debates about fan etiquette, social media sleuthing, and mistaken identity. The now-infamous incident involving a woman dubbed “Philly Karen” and a young Phillies fan quickly escalated from an in-game squabble to a national talking point, drawing in everyone from local school districts to innocent bystanders misidentified by the internet mob.
It all started innocently enough at LoanDepot Park, where Drew Feltwell, attending the Phillies vs. Marlins game with his wife, son Lincoln, and daughter, managed to snag a home run ball. The catch was particularly special—Feltwell intended it as an early birthday present for his soon-to-be 10-year-old son. “I felt like super dad putting that ball in his glove and giving him a hug,” Feltwell told NBC 10 Philadelphia. But the joy was short-lived.
Moments after the catch, a woman—soon to be known to millions as “Philly Karen”—confronted Feltwell, insisting the prized souvenir was rightfully hers. “That was ours,” she shouted, according to footage broadcast by FanDuel Sports Network Florida. When Feltwell tried to explain that he’d given the ball to his son, the woman escalated the confrontation. “No, you took it from me! You took it from me! That was in my hands. That was in my hands,” she yelled, growing more agitated as the crowd around them began to take notice.
Feltwell, caught in the crosshairs of a public dispute, faced a tough decision. “Just trying to set an example of how to de-escalate a situation in front of my son, I guess,” he later reflected. In an effort to avoid further conflict and set a positive example, Feltwell handed the ball over to the woman. The crowd’s reaction was swift and loud—boos echoed through the stadium, and the woman was seen flipping off the Miami crowd as she left her seat. Feltwell’s son, Lincoln, was left disappointed. “I wasn’t very happy that we had to give it to her, but we can’t win. She was going to get it anyways,” Lincoln shared with NBC 10 Philadelphia.
But the story didn’t end there. As video of the altercation spread like wildfire on social media, the hunt to identify “Philly Karen” began. Amateur sleuths pored over the footage, speculating about the woman’s identity. In the rush to unmask her, internet detectives pointed the finger at Cheryl Richardson-Wagner, a South Jersey resident. The accusation was baseless, but the online mob was relentless. Richardson-Wagner was inundated with messages and public scorn, forcing her to publicly clear her name.
“OK everyone ... I’m NOT the crazy Philly Mom (but I sure would love to be as thin as she is and move as fast) ... and I’m a Red Sox fan,” Richardson-Wagner posted on Facebook on September 6, 2025. Her post was met with support from friends and acquaintances, one of whom commented, “Omg! How did they even involve you in this? I would never see you taking a ball from a child! Crazy!” Richardson-Wagner replied, “Never mind that I wasn’t anywhere near Florida last night (never mind at a Phillies game in Florida) and that I have about 20 years and 50 pounds on that woman.”
The internet’s misfire didn’t stop with Richardson-Wagner. Rumors also spread that the woman in the video worked for Hammonton Public Schools in New Jersey. The district quickly stepped in to set the record straight. On September 7, 2025, Hammonton Schools posted on Facebook: “The woman identified on social media as ‘Phillies Karen’ is not, and has never been an employee of the Hammonton Public Schools located in Hammonton, New Jersey. Social media and news reports indicating that she is, are incorrect. Anyone who works for our school district, attended as a student or lives in our community would obviously have caught the ball bare-handed in the first place, avoiding this entire situation.” The district’s humorous touch provided some much-needed levity, garnering over a thousand shares and plenty of laughs from the local community.
Meanwhile, the Feltwell family did their best to move on from the awkward and public ordeal. Drew Feltwell, reflecting on the incident, admitted to mixed emotions. “I thought I had accomplished this great thing, but she just wouldn’t stop,” he said. “Putting the ball in his glove and then taking it back out killed me.” Despite his disappointment, he emphasized his desire not to see the woman’s life ruined by the social media backlash. “I did not want the incident to ‘ruin’ her life, adding that he did not wish ‘any harm on her,’” Feltwell told reporters.
For young Lincoln, the story took a heartwarming turn. The Miami Marlins, recognizing the family’s ordeal, presented them with a gift bag as a gesture of goodwill. Even better, Phillies player Harrison Bader—the man whose home run started it all—arranged to meet Lincoln after the game, gifting him a signed bat. “I’m happy I got to get something else. It was very, very fun getting to meet Bader,” Lincoln said, his disappointment at losing the ball softened by the special encounter.
The “Philly Karen” incident has since become the latest in a string of fan disputes to capture the nation’s attention. From altercations at New York Mets games to infamous moments at the US Open, sports venues have become unexpected stages for viral drama. But while this saga began with an unfortunate confrontation, it ultimately became a story about resilience, kindness, and the power of a community—both online and offline—to set the record straight.
As for the true identity of “Philly Karen,” the internet’s search continues. For now, the Feltwell family has their memories, a signed bat, and the knowledge that sometimes, the best example a parent can set is knowing when to walk away. The Phillies may have lost a souvenir, but they—and their fans—gained a story that won’t soon be forgotten.
