Item #: SCP-9396
Level 1/9396
Object Class: Safe
Classified
SCP-9396-HOME.
Special Containment Procedures: A fenced perimeter has been established around SCP-9396-HOME, and CCTV cameras monitor it for any signs of trespassing. In exchange for regular enrichment, SCP-9396 has agreed not to manifest its anomalous properties in the presence of civilians.
SCP-9396's enrichment takes the form of baseball games and baseball-related activities in SCP-9396-HOME. Enrichment events are scheduled for four days a week. Personnel are permitted to use SCP-9396-HOME outside of these scheduled events for recreational purposes.
Description: SCP-9396 is the genius loci of a baseball field (designated SCP-9396-HOME) located in Barrington, IL. SCP-9396 is an intangible force; however, it is able to manifest a physical avatar in order to interact with individuals directly. This avatar takes the form of a large baseball, sporting a cape to denote its back, as well as a pair of human eyes and set of human teeth to denote its front. SCP-9396 answers to the name, "Mr. Baseball."
Baseball-related actions performed in SCP-9396-HOME can be influenced by SCP-9396. These influences include:
- Affecting the trajectory of a hit baseball.
- Improving or worsening the fielders' ability to get outs.
- Creating a negligible time dilation effect, slowing time down during moments where either team is about to win.
SCP-9396 does not use these abilities frequently, claiming that it only desires to "occasionally make games more interesting." However, it has agreed to allow the Foundation to test the extent of its influence.
Interview Log (Partial):
Interviewed: SCP-9396
Interviewer: Researcher Melvin Lord
<Begin Snippet>
Lord: Yes, I'm aware of how the infield fly rule works. I used to play on my high school team. Let me rephrase the question: When did you first become self-aware? Were you always present here, or only after this place became a baseball field?
SCP-9396: Well, when I was younger I used to be a sandlot. Do you know what—
Lord: Yes, I know what a sandlot is.
SCP-9396: Very impressive! So… I believe my earliest memory was during the middle of a game. A little "amateur" game among friends. I remember everything outside of the field felt very old compared to me, but everything inside, especially the base lines, felt very young. What about you, buddy? What was your earliest memory?
Lord: This isn't that kind of—
(He sighs.)
Lord: Whatever. Uh, I was in my mom's lap, looking at a lion in a zoo or something.
SCP-9396: Oh wow! That sounds scary. Were you scared?
Lord: …Let's move on.
<End Snippet>
Addendum: Experiment Logs
SUBJECTS
TEST
RESULTS
D-10934, automatic pitcher.
Various targets set up around the field. D-10934 told to hit each ball pitched at him, with SCP-9396 manipulating the trajectory of the balls to hit each target.
D-10934 hit 76% of the balls pitched, each one curving to hit a target regardless of trajectory immediately after contact. SCP-9396 provided affirmations throughout.
SCP-9396 research team.
Standard baseball game. SCP-9396 not instructed to perform any alterations to the game but also not disallowed from performing any.
Game proceeded and ended with no anomalous interference. Throughout the game, SCP-9396 made small talk with players in the dugout. Frequent topics included early baseball games in their lives, parental relations, and favorite sports mascots.
SCP-9396 research team.
Standard baseball game. SCP-9396 asked to make at least one alteration to the game but not given any parameters for the timing or nature of the alternation.
Game proceeded without any of the players observing oddities. Afterward, SCP-9396 claimed to have made one alteration: When Researcher Mitchell Love was about to fly out in the bottom of the ninth, it curved the ball out of the park for a home run. Of note, Love had gone hitless prior to this point. SCP-9396's explanation: "I just wanted the kid to have one moment."
SCP-9396 research team.
A softball game.
No changes observed; SCP-9396 later clarified that it could only make alterations to games of baseball, not adjacent games like softball and tee-ball. It repeatedly joked that, if there were a "Mrs. Baseball," such an entity would possess its powers of alteration for softball games. Personnel noted that it seemed somewhat melancholic as this joke was delivered.
SCP-9396 research team.
Standard baseball game. SCP-9396 not instructed to perform any alterations to the game but also not disallowed from performing any.
SCP-9396 made one alteration, which was identified immediately: As Researcher Lord was getting into position to catch a fly ball in center field, SCP-9396 altered its trajectory dramatically, causing it to slam into a wall in foul territory. When asked, SCP-9396 claimed that the reason for the alteration was fear that the ball was going to hit Researcher Lord in the face or head instead of entering his glove, causing lasting brain trauma and developmental issues. Of note is that Researcher Lord is in his mid-thirties.
SCP-9396 research team.
Standard baseball game. SCP-9396 invited to participate in the game as a player.
Game proceeded without any players observing oddities. SCP-9396's performance was average; it claimed that it did not make any alterations to the game out of a desire to preserve its competitive integrity as a player. While in the dugout, it was observed conversing enthusiastically with Researcher Love about this, as well as historically significant baseball games, the rules of the sport, parental relations, and the lack thereof.
SCP-9396 research team.
Standard baseball game. SCP-9396 invited to participate in the game as a manager for one of the teams.
Game proceeded without any players observing oddities. SCP-9396 again claimed that it made no anomalous alterations for reasons of competitive integrity, but it moved Researcher Love from sixth in the batting order to first. It also gave him significantly more personal affirmations and pieces of advice than the other players. This was initially believed to be due to Researcher Love's unfamiliarity with the sport.
SCP-9396 research team.
Standard baseball game. SCP-9396 not instructed to perform any alterations to the game but also not disallowed from performing any. Researcher Love requested to act as the manager for his team. Due to his recent increase in enthusiasm for baseball, this was permitted in order to gauge potential impacts on SCP-9396's personality and anomalous properties.
Game proceeded without any players observing oddities. Researcher Love's team visibly struggled and ultimately lost. No changes were noted in SCP-9396, who gave words of encouragement to Researcher Love and his team.
Researcher Mitchell Love (not scheduled).
CCTV footage showed Researcher Love entering SCP-9396-HOME and being greeted by SCP-9396. The two proceeded to play a game of catch while conversing.
As the CCTV cameras did not have microphones, the content of this conversation was not recorded. The two spoke for one hour and 37 minutes, with Researcher Love repeatedly wiping his eyes near the end. After this, a bright light flashed in the area, damaging the camera lenses beyond repair.
Addendum: Researcher Love could not be located afterwards. SCP-9396 failed to manifest its avatar or respond to communication. No changes to SCP-9396-HOME were initially noted, but a framed photo was eventually discovered in one of the dugouts. The photo depicts Researcher Love on the left side, wearing a catcher's mitt and throwing a baseball (SCP-9396) to the person on the right side, who is also Researcher Love and also wearing a catcher's mitt. All subjects are smiling.
Minor anomalies continue to be observed in SCP-9396-HOME despite SCP-9396's absence, specifically statistical oddities involving frequent home runs among individuals with absent father figures.