Major League Baseball announced in October 2019 that Julia Rose and Lauren Summer were suspended indefinitely from attending MLB ballparks and facilities after exposing themselves during Game 5 of the World Series. The incident took place at Nationals Park on October 27; MLB said it violated the Nationals’ Fan Code of Conduct.
What happened during World Series Game 5?
During the seventh inning of Game 5 on October 27, 2019, women seated behind home plate exposed their breasts while Houston Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole was on the mound, pitching to Washington Nationals player Ryan Zimmerman. The incident appeared on Fox’s live broadcast at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The Associated Press reported that Julia Rose and Lauren Summer were identified as participants, including by the women themselves on social media. Associated Press
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Cole stepped off the mound, but contemporaneous coverage said it was unclear whether he saw the incident. The reporting does not establish that it distracted him or affected the game. Los Angeles Times
Why did MLB suspend Rose and Summer?
MLB said the participants violated the Nationals’ Fan Code of Conduct. The league’s statement, reported by the Associated Press, said they were removed from the stadium and “suspended indefinitely from attending an MLB ballpark or facility.” Associated Press
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The suspension letter was reported as signed by David Thomas, MLB’s vice president of security and ballpark operations. Contemporary accounts described the letter’s wording after it was shared by the women; the reports do not establish that the letter was independently reviewed. The Washington Post CBS News
What reason did the women give?
Rose and Summer said the stunt was intended to raise awareness about breast cancer; some coverage also reported that they asked people to donate. That is their stated explanation, not proof that the stunt increased awareness or generated donations. MLB’s reported explanation focused on the fan-code violation and conduct it described as promoting a business. The two accounts establish what the women and league said, not an independently verified motive or impact. The Washington Post
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Is the ban still in effect?
The available contemporary reports establish that MLB announced an indefinite suspension in 2019. They do not confirm whether it remains in force today, so the documented outcome is the league’s announcement at that time—not a verified current status.
