Chicago Cubs Troll Atlanta Braves With Elite-Level Video Board Stat

The Chicago Cubs and their fans are apparently still salty about something that happened late last season against the Atlanta Braves.

With the Cubs desperately trying to claw their way into the postseason, they played a three-game series against the Braves in Atlanta. It was the penultimate series of the season for both teams. 

The Braves had already clinched the NL East and weren't playing for much on the night of Sept. 27. However, their best player – Ronald Acuna, Jr. – was chasing history. 

Acuna needed two stolen bases to become the first player in MLB history to hit 40 home runs and steal 70 bases in the same season. In the bottom of the 8th, Acuna notched his 69th steal. Not only that, but he eventually scored the game-tying run. 

Each team scored one run in the 9th inning, which sent the game into extras. The Cubs scored a run in the top of the 10th, bringing the Braves back to the plate trailing by one. 

Acuna laced a one-out single to right field to tie the game. Then, he proceeded to steal second base on the first pitch to the ensuing hitter, Ozzie Albies, for his 70th stolen base. 

Atlanta Braves OF Ronald Acuna Jr. reacts after stealing his 70th base of the season during the MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves on September 27th, 2023 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA.

(Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

There was a lengthy delay in the game as Acuna pulled second base out of the ground, held it over his head, and groundskeepers came out to swap the historic base for a new one. 

In addition, the Braves played an entire highlight montage of Acuna's season on the stadium video board. This irritated the Cubs, their fans and even their broadcasters. There was a lengthy delay to honor Acuna, which – to them – interrupted the flow of a game the Cubs desperately needed to win. 

Following the delay, Albies ripped the next pitch to right field, scoring Acuna and winning the game for the Braves. Cubs fans feel like the Braves "iced" their relief pitcher, Daniel Palencia, who went a few minutes without throwing a pitch.

Chicago missed the playoffs by one game. 

Chicago Cubs go for revenge with video board troll of the Atlanta Braves and Ronald Acuna, Jr.

In case you thought the Cubs may have forgotten about that situation, rest assured that they haven't. On Thursday afternoon, the teams met for the rubber match of a three-game series at Wrigley Field. 

After Cubs designated hitter Ian stole a base in the fourth inning, the Cubs put a message on the stadium video board. It read, "Ian Happ: first player in MLB history to steal a base on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at Wrigley Field in the bottom of an inning." 

The message also displayed a photo of Happ holding a base over his head, similar to what Acuna did after setting his record. 

That is some elite-level trolling, and shutout to the Cubs video board team for pulling it off. Unfortunately for Chicago, that was the highlight of their day. The Braves shut the Cubs out 3-0 to capture the series. 

The Braves are 4-2 against the Cubs this season, so they probably don't much care what the team thinks about them.