In the world of social media, where clicks and engagement rule supreme, not all pages are what they seem. One such offender is the Facebook page “Gateway City Birds,” which masquerades as a source for St. Louis Cardinals news but is actually a hub for fabricated stories designed to provoke outrage, shares, and comments – a classic case of ragebait. This page has repeatedly posted sensational, entirely false narratives about beloved Cardinals figures, exploiting fans’ emotions for viral traction. A prime example is their recent hoax claiming that Cardinals legend José Oquendo is battling cancer, a story that has been debunked and called out as pure fiction.
Gateway City Birds posted a “breaking” story alleging that José Oquendo, affectionately known as “The Secret Weapon” for his long tenure as a player and coach with the Cardinals, was fighting a serious illness, specifically cancer. The post painted a dramatic picture of Oquendo’s supposed health struggles, complete with emotional appeals that tugged at fans’ heartstrings. However, this was no heartfelt update – it was a complete fabrication.
Quickly, the truth emerged. Jim Hayes, a sports broadcaster associated with FanDuel Sports Network, took to X/Twitter to set the record straight:
Jim Hayes on X (formerly Twitter): “Hey Cardinals fans: there is a bogus Facebook story about Jose Oquendo being in poor health that’s making the rounds. He’s fine. It’s the same bogus site, Gateway City Birds, that published a fake story about me. The Secret Weapon is fine, and they should STOP doing this crap. / X”
Hey Cardinals fans: there is a bogus Facebook story about Jose Oquendo being in poor health that’s making the rounds. He’s fine. It’s the same bogus site, Gateway City Birds, that published a fake story about me. The Secret Weapon is fine, and they should STOP doing this crap.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Gateway City Birds has a pattern of inventing wild tales about Cardinals players and people associated with the team. Just days earlier, they claimed Brendan Donovan rejected a pursuit from the Astros, only for commenters to call it out as “fake news again.” Another post absurdly alleged that Nolan Arenado decided to adopt 20 children of veterans – a heartwarming but entirely untrue story that drew skeptical responses like “you really believe he adopted 20 kids! This is fake news!” These fabrications are crafted to go viral, preying on fans’ loyalty and concern for their team.
Ragebait is a tactic where content creators post inflammatory, exaggerated, or outright false information to elicit strong emotional reactions – anger, shock, sympathy, or excitement. The goal isn’t truth; it’s engagement. Shares, likes, and comments boost the post’s visibility, driving more traffic to the page. In the case of Gateway City Birds, these fake Cardinals stories exploit the passionate St. Louis fanbase, turning misinformation into a profitable echo chamber.
Spreading false health rumors about public figures like Oquendo isn’t just unethical – it’s harmful. It causes unnecessary worry among fans, friends, and family, and can damage reputations. In Oquendo’s case, the hoax was so convincing that it spread rapidly before being debunked. As Hayes pointed out, this page has targeted him personally with similar lies, showing a reckless disregard for the consequences.
This kind of content erodes trust in online information. In an era where fake news proliferates, pages like Gateway City Birds contribute to a toxic environment where real stories get drowned out by sensational garbage. Cardinals fans, known for their dedication, deserve better than being manipulated for clicks.
If you’ve come across posts from Gateway City Birds, don’t engage – report them. On Facebook, you can flag misleading content as “False Information” by clicking the three dots in the top right of the post, selecting “Find support or report post,” and choosing the appropriate option. Reporting helps Facebook’s moderators review and potentially remove the content, reducing its reach.
Spread awareness instead of the lies. Share verified Cardinals news from reputable sources. By calling out ragebait and demanding accountability, we can protect our community from these digital predators.
In the end, Gateway City Birds isn’t about birds or baseball – it’s about baiting rage for profit. Stay vigilant, Cardinals Nation, and let’s keep the focus on the real stories.
