Fans who receieved hats were given vouchers for a free replacementGETTY IMAGES
A microscopic beetle was "found in the packaging of some of the beach hats the Padres were giving away to fans attending Saturday night’s game at Petco Park," and the team "ceased distribution and confiscated the hats it had already distributed," according to Kevin Acee of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. The Padres said that the beetle "posed no risk to humans," and the move to confiscate the hats was “out of an abundance of caution." Fans were "offered a voucher for a replacement hat." A few thousand hats were "distributed among the announced crowd of 35,771." Ushers went around with "plastic bags trying to collect them, although some fans were seen hiding their hats" (SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.com, 9/1). The Union-Tribune's Matthew Hall tweeted, "Worst giveaway ever. Grain beetles. Gross, man." San Diego-based KSWB-Fox' Raoul Martinez: "Hey @padres should I return the hat you guys dropped off at @fox5sandiego last week? Or??? I don’t want to be #patientzero or #indexcase for #grainbeetle mania" (TWITTER.com, 9/2).
