Update: He’s back. Adam Wainwright who suddenly deactivated his Twitter account has quietly opened it up. He didn’t post anything, but midway through the Cardinals game on Thursday, fans began to realize he had his @UncleCharlie50 back up. If you have been in a cave for the past week and missed this whole thing, read on. It was “much ado about nothing”– you just missed more of the drama that has been the 2023 season.
Original article: Wed. June 28, 2023
Adam Wainwright will get the start Thursday in the final game of the three-game series against the Astros and he was on 101 ESPN with his “Wednesdays with Waino” radio segment and addressed his closing his Twitter account.
Fans have been missing Adam Wainwright’s lighthearted and often uplifting Tweets and as of Tuesday night there was no official explanation as to why his Twitter account was deleted, although Martin Kilcoyne of FOX 2 had Tweeted that Wainwright told him it was due to the negativity he was seeing on his news feed.
Wednesday Wainwright said, “”Here’s the thing. If I’m gonna get out of this hole and help this team win more games, I need 100% committment. I’ve got to be 100% committed to the idea that I’m gonna be great. That’s what I’ve always done, that’s what I need. I can’t do that if I have hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hate mail coming my way and I’m reading it. I try not to read them, you don’t want to, but people keep adding me so that I do see it, and they are taking cheap shots too man, like I’ve never done anything in this city before…”
He added that he knows the majority of fans are good people. To hear the interview, CLICK HERE.
This wouldn’t even be a story if it were anyone else– but Wainwright loves to engage with the fans and has often used Twitter to show his spirit, express his feelings or promote his charity. When fans saw his Twitter account was not there, they began missing him.
With the way the season is going, this is just another strange episode as everyone was wondering: Where’s Waino?
When you go to look for @UncleCharlie50 you see:
The Cardinals split the two-game series with the Cubs in London, with Adam Wainwright pitching in the first one with no success. He allowed more hits, 11, than he recorded outs, nine, and was charged with seven runs as the Cubs went on to rout the Cardinals at London Stadium.
Wainwright allowed two runs in the second, three in the third and two more in the fourth, including a runner he left on base after failing to retire the first two batters in the inning. It was his shortest start of the season.
While the team was on the plane heading back to the United States, fans began to notice that “Adam Wainwright’s Twitter is missing.”
While his @UncleCharlie50 account was not active on Twitter, Wainwright’s charity Twitter handle, @BigLeagueImpact was Tweeting away. Wainwright’s name is front and center with the charity in St. Louis but he has MLB players all over the league who raise money for their own causes in the name of Big League Impact. Yesterday and today the Twitter feed was full of postings for an event in Baltimore.
Orioles pitcher Tyler Wells has a “Swinging for Impact” Topgolf Challenge fundraiser going with proceeds benefitting two organizations working with pediatric cancer patients and on the day its Executive Director was “trending” on Twitter for not being on Twitter–Big League Impact announced its annual Fantasy Football League.
Of course the charity account is run by a social media expert who works for Big League Impact, but despite his personal Twitter woes, the charity was still Tweeting.
It also appears he made a Tweet June 28, on his “@WalkingWithWaino” Christian account– From @walkingwwaino: “Okay, I’m stuck and can’t decide what book to do next. So, we’ll do whatever OT book y’all vote on. I’ll take the first 20 or so responses and whatever has the most nods we’ll do that one. Sound good?”
Look for Wainwright to get a lot of fan support at the start of the game tonight. Game time is 6:15.
Info on the Big League Impact Fantasy Football League
Now in its 10th season, Big League Impact’s annual fantasy football league gives St. Louis Cardinals fans a chance to compete head-to-head against their favorite Major Leaguers — all for a great cause. Participating Cardinals include Adam Wainwright, Tommy Edman, Steven Matz, Lars Nootbaar and Drew VerHagen.
Big League Impact was launched by Wainwright in 2013 out of his love for fantasy football and giving back to people in need. This year’s league, presented by CommunityAmerica Credit Union, will benefit charities including:
- Big League Impact, which helps pro athletes rally their fans to raise money for causes close to their hearts in an effort to save lives, restore dignity and instill hope for people in need around the world.
- Louis Public Schools Foundation, which works to engage and focus local, regional and national support to promote educational success for St. Louis Public School District students.
- Meals on Wheels Rockwall, which helps keep the elderly and disabled citizens of Rockwall County living in their homes as long as safely possible by providing nutritious meals, daily human contact and supportive services.
It all kicks off with an invite to a one-of-a-kind, game-day experience on Friday, Aug. 18 at Busch Stadium, followed by a watch party in an all-inclusive suite while the Cardinals take on the New York Mets. League participants will also enjoy a pregame Q&A with Cardinals players, and will get special access to watch batting practice and play catch on the field with Cardinals players.
Participants will then compete in a weekly salary cap, powered by fantasy platform RealTime Sports, for a chance to win a grand prize trip for two to Spring Training and other exclusive prizes throughout the season. For more information and to register, visit www.bigleagueimpact.org/stlfantasyfootball. Sales close Friday, Aug. 11.
About Big League Impact: www.bigleagueimpact.org
Big League Impact, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that partners with professional athletes through unique, sports-related fundraising platforms to help people meet basic human needs like food, clean water, medical care, shelter, and education in an effort to save lives, restore dignity, and instill hope. Started by St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright in 2013 as a fantasy football fundraiser, Big League Impact has grown from coast-to-coast, working with 140 MLB players, and raising more than $8 million for causes around the world.
Photo courtesy AP and KSDK.com.
