Baseball fans are used to seeing their favourite players running all over the field; but not around the facility itself.
On a 90 degree summer day, Seigo Masubuchi – an employee of the Triple-A St. Paul Saints – ran a full 26.2 mile marathon around the concourse of CHS Field while a baseball game was being played! It was the 96th marathon for the 47 year old.
Mashubuchi ran along the concourse dodging hot dog vendors, foul balls, the pig mascot, fans with pints of beer and food, and any number of obstacles along the way.
Masubuchi noted, “the fans expect us to do fun stuff, amazing fans that have been coming for years to new fans just discovering us. We’re here to entertain people.”
The Japanese transplant has loved the Saints for some 30 years and has taken advantage of his heritage to make contact with members of the media and businesses in Japan. He said, “I started coordinating Japanese media visits and Japanese players that wanted to try out for the Saints. I sold tickets to Japanese companies for group visits.”
He made deals with drink companies, served as an interpreter, and served as a substitute karaoke singer. He is now one of the team’s most popular “ushertainers”.
Masubuchi ran his most recent marathon on May 11 when the Saints hosted the Buffalo Bisons and sang “Born to Run” while doing it. He threw out the first pitch of the game as he ran past the right field fair pole; only stopping for the singing of the National Anthem.
As he ran his laps, the PA announcer urged fans to cheer him on and shouted “Let’s go, Seigo!” He finished the marathon in four hours and 40 minutes – during the eighth inning.
On his job, Masubuchi said, “you don’t feel like you’re working, obviously. It’s work, but it’s not really working.