Catching Hell

[66 mustang]

anyone watch the special on ESPN about the Steve Bartman incident. I'm not a baseball fan at all. 0% but I remember this story. I didn't know it got as bad as it did though and the politicians saying the things that they said and the news media just dangling this guy out there for a story while they put his life in more danger every time they showed that replay or did a story. hindsight i guess.

[heaven&hell]

I watched it and it was great. I always thought it was absolute Bullshit how Cub fans blamed him and how Red Sox fans blamed Buckner. No one ever seems to remember the past ball and then error by Gonzales and then of course the pitchers that couldn't get anyone out. I'm a huge baseball fans and love my Cardinals so have hate the Cubs with all my heart but I felt bad for their fans and Steve Bartman. Afterall he wasn't the only fan that was reaching for the ball he just happened to be the guy that touched it and the fans and media focused on. What a shame.

[LV KIX]

Though Bartman is more memorable to most baseball fans... Being a lifetime Orioles fan this one is much more memorable to me:

 

** Worst thing about the whole incident.. This kid was a hero in New York. He was given the key to the city and tickets to every home game remaining in the ALCS and the World Series. He also got to go down into the Yankee locker room.

 

JEFFERY MAIER

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Jeffrey (Jeff) Maier (born September 24, 1984) is an American baseball fan best known for an incident in which he was involved as a twelve-year-old at a baseball game, when he deflected a batted ball in-play into the stands during Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles. His action altered the course of Game 1,[1] as the resulting home run allowed the Yankees to tie the score. They would go on to win the game and the series, four games to one.

 

 

 

INCIDENT:

 

On October 9, 1996, the Yankees trailed the Orioles 4–3 in the bottom of the eighth inning when shortstop Derek Jeter hit a deep fly ball to right field. Right fielder Tony Tarasco moved near the fence and appeared "to draw a bead on the ball" [2] when the then-12-year-old Maier reached over the fence separating the stands and the field of play 9 feet below and deflected the ball into the stands. While baseball fans are permitted to catch (and keep) balls hit into the stands, if "a spectator reaches out of the stands, or goes on the playing field, and touches a live ball" [3] spectator interference is to be called.

 

Right field umpire Rich Garcia immediately ruled the play a home run, tying the game at 4–4, despite the protest of Tarasco and Orioles manager Davey Johnson (the latter was ejected in the ensuing argument). The Yankees won the game in the eleventh inning on Bernie Williams' walk-off home run. The Orioles maintained their protest of the Maier play after the conclusion of the game, but their protest was denied by American League President Gene Budig because judgment calls cannot be protested. After viewing the replay, Garcia admitted that there was spectator interference, though he maintained the ball was not catchable.[4] Garcia's contention that the ball was not catchable has been disputed.[5] Had Garcia ruled it spectator interference, he would have then used his own judgment to determine what the most likely outcome of the play would be—either an out or awarding Jeter a given number of bases.

 

In right field, Tarasco, going back to the track, to the wall...(Maier steals ball, Bob Uecker: "Oh!") AND WHAT HAPPENS HERE? HE CONTENDS THAT A FAN REACHES UP AND TOUCHES IT! BUT RICHIE GARCIA SAYS NO...It's a home run! Here comes Davey Johnson, out to argue as Jeter comes across to tie the game.

—Bob Costas on NBC television, calling the controversial Jeter home run in Game 1.

 

There's a high fly ball to right, deep...Going back is Tarasco, to the warning track, to the wall, he's under it now...AND IT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM BY A FAN, AND THEY'RE GONNA CALL IT...A HOME RUN! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! Richie Garcia is calling it a home run, and Tarasco is out to argue! A terrible call by Richie Garcia! IT'S ALL TIED UP!

—Jon Miller, calling the same play on Orioles radio. (Audio

 

)

 

The Yankees went on to win the series against Baltimore, four games to one, as well as the World Series against the Atlanta Braves. As a result of the play, a railing was added to the top of the right field wall at Yankee Stadium to prevent fans from reaching over it.

 

Meanwhile, in New York, Maier became a minor celebrity. The New York Daily News allowed him to sit behind the Yankee dugout later in the postseason. The boy appeared on national talk shows, including The Late Show with David Letterman, and was even awarded the key to New York City by mayor Rudy Giuliani.

[heaven&hell]

That Jeffrey kid changed everything.

If that kid doesn't interfer then maybe just maybe the Yankees don't have a dynasty but who really knows.

 

I remember standing in Foot Locker where I worked at the time watching that game and being pissed that interference wasn't called..