Trevor Bauer offers chance to win his 'Harambe Forever' cleats

Bauer honored Harambe with his cleats in the second game of a doubleheader. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Trevor Bauer offers chance to win his game-worn 'Harambe Forever' cleats

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 9/5/20

Trevor Bauer wore some pretty amazing cleats during the Cincinnati Reds loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday at PNC Park, and now they could be yours.

Bauer honored Harambe with his cleats in the second game of a doubleheader. The 17-year-old western lowland gorilla was shot and killed in 2016 at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden by an emergency response team protecting a 3-year-old boy who fell into his exhibit.

#RIPHarambe if you want a chance to own my game worn, signed, authenticated Harambe cleats from tonight’s game, pick up something from https://t.co/RSoK5n9sWd by midnight tomorrow (sept 5) for a chance to win them! pic.twitter.com/HkuvqZcMeM
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) September 5, 2020

Before the game, Bauer teased the cleats without revealing them entirely so that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred wouldn't get mad about the customization choice.

There’s a design on the other side of these that I PROMISE you want to tune in for...but I don’t want uncle Rob to get mad and ban me from wearing them again so...this is all you get until game time. But y’all should definitely tune in. #HiMLB #HiRob #DontSuspendMePlease pic.twitter.com/jbQPNaqL2A
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) September 4, 2020

It's not surprising that Bauer wouldn't reveal his cleats before the game. The last time he decided to do so, it backfired. Last month, the right-hander was warned not to wear customized cleats in support of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly, who was suspended after the league said he intentionally threw at Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman and shortstop Carlos Correa in a late-July game.

The Reds fell to the Pirates 4-3 on Friday and Bauer pitched six innings, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out seven.

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