A fan in Florida took a potential extra-base hit away from Miguel Cabrera by leaning over the right field fence to snag a fly ball off the bat of Cabrera before Norris Hopper of the Reds had a chance to catch it.
"I did something that anyone else would do," said Fridkin, 21, of Miami.
He said he didn't feel that bad about trying to make the catch and didn't think Cabrera would be angry about the grab. He said he might keep the ball atop his television set so he can see it when he watches Marlins games and be reminded of the only ball he ever caught at a major league game.
I bet Cabrera wanted a hit. And Fridkin should never be allowed in a major league stadium until he proves that he has some semblance of knowledge of the rules of baseball.
The whole foul ball thing is one part of baseball that's changed significantly in the last 20 years in baseball. Go back to say, 1987, and you'd never have people in the stands fighting over a foul ball. You didn't have people in the front row down the baselines leaning over to field foul grounders and accidentally falling onto the field. They knew if they did fall onto the field, they'd get kicked out. Now they just climb back into the stands with a grin on their face and watch the rest of the game.
A player was not expected to toss any ball hit his way into the stands, because it was well known that the cost of each ball a player tossed was subtracted from his paycheck. Third outs of innings, foul balls that stayed on the field -- those went back into play, not into the stands. No ballboy or ballgirl would ever dream of tossing a ball into the stands, either. Now going to a ballgame is all about getting a ball, through any means necessary.
And most of all, people did not interfere with live balls in play, partly because of the fear of getting kicked out of the game, but also because doing so risked consternation from your fellow fans and in some cases even threatened to put you in physical danger. People who interfered with the game were mocked, pitied, and reviled, not cheered and treated like celebrities as they are today.
It's all on you, Jeffrey Maier, you smug, addle-brained good-for-nothing.
I wonder what percentage of fans at any giving sporting event are there just for the spectacle, not because they are fans of the sport. I took a girl on a date to a Stanley Cup game in the old Chicago Stadium and it was her first hockey game. I had to explain the blue lines, red line, offside, power plays. She got up to go to the bathroom and the fans behind me told I should never have taken her to a Stanley Cup game if she didn't understand hockey - that it was a waste of a ticket. I disagreed but I see their point.
Go back to say, 1987, and you'd never have people in the stands fighting over a foul ball.
There may have been a lull in 1987, but it was certainly happening in 1975. I witnessed a couple of fights over fouls at Shea that year. Also, didn't someone once dump beer on Minnie Minoso while he was trying to make a catch at the wall?
It may have happened less in the past, but stuff did happen. There just weren't as many televised games, and there weren't as many nationally televised highlights.
3 That's a ridiculous argument. Sports are entertainment. If someone's entertained by witnessing superior athleticism and game strategy, awesome. If someone likes watching the pretty colors and sitting in the sun, awesome.
If a fan has a problem with the characteristics of a spectator that respects the play on the field and doesn't interfere with the another spectator's ability to enjoy the game, then that person should buy every seat in their section and surround themselves with people that meet their standards. Otherwise, shut up. Stanley Cup, World Series, Daytona 500, World Cup, PAL t-ball, whatever.
9
Then perhaps the self-righteous baseball announcers of New York, Boston, and St. Louis should stop giving Dodgers fans grief for when they arrive or leave a baseball game.
I included the caveat "I disagreed but I see their point" because I've met a lot of fans like that in different venues. I disagreed then and still do. It works both ways. I was at Yankee Stadium sitting in the upper deck and got yelled at for standing up and cheering when the team did something good. You have to strike a balance between knowing the expecting limits of behavior (don't interfere with play) and tolerance (I'd prefer the ladies in front of me don't talk knitting all game but I can live with it).
13 It was ear-splitting during the national anthem. The crowd was singing so loud you couldn't hear the singer. This was 1992 vs. the Pengiuns with Mario Lemieux at his best.
"In general being a good fan is really no different than being a good person in general."
For some reason, this reminds me of going to a Dire Straits concert back in the 80s when "Money for Nothing" and "Walk of Life" were huge hits. I went to the show to hear the concert, but two fans in front of me went to the show only to hear those two songs. During every other song, they talked -- loud. And when the two hits got played, they stood up and emitted constant, ear-piercing screams.
When I tried to shush them during the non-hit portions of the show, they gave me a look as if I'd just asked them to swallow a bottle of detergent.
I stayed away from rock shows for a good many years after that.
A player was not expected to toss any ball hit his way into the stands, because it was well known that the cost of each ball a player tossed was subtracted from his paycheck. Third outs of innings, foul balls that stayed on the field -- those went back into play, not into the stands. No ballboy or ballgirl would ever dream of tossing a ball into the stands, either. Now going to a ballgame is all about getting a ball, through any means necessary.
And most of all, people did not interfere with live balls in play, partly because of the fear of getting kicked out of the game, but also because doing so risked consternation from your fellow fans and in some cases even threatened to put you in physical danger. People who interfered with the game were mocked, pitied, and reviled, not cheered and treated like celebrities as they are today.
It's all on you, Jeffrey Maier, you smug, addle-brained good-for-nothing.
There may have been a lull in 1987, but it was certainly happening in 1975. I witnessed a couple of fights over fouls at Shea that year. Also, didn't someone once dump beer on Minnie Minoso while he was trying to make a catch at the wall?
It may have happened less in the past, but stuff did happen. There just weren't as many televised games, and there weren't as many nationally televised highlights.
At least she wasn't interfering with play. If the woman wasn't bothering the fans much, then it's not a hanging offense.
If a fan has a problem with the characteristics of a spectator that respects the play on the field and doesn't interfere with the another spectator's ability to enjoy the game, then that person should buy every seat in their section and surround themselves with people that meet their standards. Otherwise, shut up. Stanley Cup, World Series, Daytona 500, World Cup, PAL t-ball, whatever.
Then perhaps the self-righteous baseball announcers of New York, Boston, and St. Louis should stop giving Dodgers fans grief for when they arrive or leave a baseball game.
I included the caveat "I disagreed but I see their point" because I've met a lot of fans like that in different venues. I disagreed then and still do. It works both ways. I was at Yankee Stadium sitting in the upper deck and got yelled at for standing up and cheering when the team did something good. You have to strike a balance between knowing the expecting limits of behavior (don't interfere with play) and tolerance (I'd prefer the ladies in front of me don't talk knitting all game but I can live with it).
10 Good point.
In general being a good fan is really no different than being a good person in general.
Yes, you can make more noise at a sporting event than a symphony concert, but in any case you are expected to act within certain norms.
"In general being a good fan is really no different than being a good person in general."
So true.
When I tried to shush them during the non-hit portions of the show, they gave me a look as if I'd just asked them to swallow a bottle of detergent.
I stayed away from rock shows for a good many years after that.
Was that at the Greek Theater?
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