Pittsburgh Pirates guest ‘suffers cardiac event and needs CPR while shagging fly balls

A guest of the Pittsburgh Pirates has suffered a cardiac-related medical emergency and needed CPR from first responders after retrieving fly balls in the outfield during the team’s spring training on Tuesday. 

The incident took place at the Pirates’ LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. According to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Pirates beat writer Jason Mackey, Ernie Withers, 69, suddenly collapsed while picking up baseballs in sunny, 77-degrees (F) weather. 

Officials rushed to his aid straight away. Withers – a former member of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce – suffered from ventricular fibrillation. 

‘Withers is actually in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame,’ added Mackey. 

‘Longtime high school official in that sport. Is GM of a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Sarasota. Actually grew up in Youngstown, Ohio.’ 

Pirates players react as Ernie Withers, 69, gets medical aid before being taken to hospital

Withers is currently ‘alert and awake’ while recovering at Manatee Memorial Hospital.

Pirates players took a knee while observing the incident unfold itself from the infield on Tuesday morning. 

Practice resumed several minutes after the field was cleared. 

National Wrestling Hall of Famer Ernie Withers, 69, is now recovering at hospital

Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton eventually shared what transpired to reporters, heaping praise on the team’s medical staff for reacting so quickly to the incident. 

‘They did an unbelievable job led by Dr. DeMeo and Dr. Franco and Todd Tomczyk and our whole medical staff,’ the 52-year-old said. 

‘They really jumped into action really quickly and I’m very fortunate that we have that group of people who in a scary incident were on top right away.’

‘[…]I can’t give enough credit to our group and how quickly they were responsive’ Shelton later added.