At the game etiquette
- Thread starter reggiecleveland
- Start date
But you have an opinion on it.
It's a stadium and people can do whatever they want with their money. Does actually mystify you? Really?
It's a stadium and people can do whatever they want with their money. Does actually mystify you? Really?
This. Whoever compared a ballgame to a concert (as opposed to a festival) is fucking crazy. Go to the symphony if you want to focus on the entertainment with no distractions.
This is true also. When I first read the OP, I was like "wow, I would've told Reggie to go fuck himself," but then I realized the problem was less the off-topic conversation than the guy's obliviousness (or perhaps even attention-seeking behavior).
I'm a bad person to ask, because I'm not worked up about my son being exposed to profanity. For better or worse*, however, we've decided as a society that it's not socially acceptable to swear in front of kids, and that rule isn't suspended when you go to the ballpark. As a practical matter, I've found it operates on a sliding scale: you're going to feel a lot more comfortable complaining about swearing in the box seats or the family grandstand than you would complaining in the bleachers, or in the non-premium seats in Foxboro, unless someone breaks out a racial slur or something.
*- In a society as large and diverse as ours, we only get to make a handful of norms like this stick. It's a shame we wasted one on swearing. It's just a word, folks.
This discussion encapsulates the reasons my husband and I decided watching baseball at home is more enjoyable, in sum, than going to the game. Loud, drunken people (our experiences are limited to Fenway and the Bronx) who think everyone else wants to hear their opinions about everything make it very difficult to concentrate on the game. That, plus never ever having had rich people's seats, makes following the action on the field very difficult. If it's a social occasion, all right for those people, but if you are really interested in the game, it's better at home.
I was at the Toilet for Opening Day in 1992. I sitting directly behind home plate in the very last row of the upper deck. I was there with about 20 people, ranging in age from mid 50s to a less than 10 year old boy. The young child was the son of my friend and co-worker. I was sitting to the co-workers left and his son was on his right. A few innings into the game, the guy sitting two rows directly in front of my co-worker lit joint. You could smell it immediately and it was overwhelming. I am confident that my co-workers son had no idea what it was. The guy, who was straight out of Yankee fan central casting, sitting directly in back of the pot smoker and therefore directly in front of my co-worker turns around and said the following to co-workers son:
"I am so f*cking sorry that this f*cking jerk decides to smoke f*cking pot in front of your f*cking kid. I just can't f*cking figure out what makes a f*cking jerk like that f*cking do something like f*cking that in front of f*cking kids. What is with this f*cking guy? I really am f*cking sorry."
My co-worker, with a dumbfounded-blank expression, said "Thanks?" I was doing my best to keep my laughter to myself.
"I am so f*cking sorry that this f*cking jerk decides to smoke f*cking pot in front of your f*cking kid. I just can't f*cking figure out what makes a f*cking jerk like that f*cking do something like f*cking that in front of f*cking kids. What is with this f*cking guy? I really am f*cking sorry."
My co-worker, with a dumbfounded-blank expression, said "Thanks?" I was doing my best to keep my laughter to myself.
I've been to 50+ games at Wrigley since the beginning of last season, and while I've never asked anyone to quiet down, I've certainly seen instances where it would be hard to fault someone that did. I've generally been lucky enough to have a large enough buffer between myself and the annoying fan of the day that it really has never been an issue for me. Personally, I don't have a problem with anyone around me jabbering on about their day or some other topic unrelated to baseball. That's gonna happen. I can periodically glance around and maybe half the people are watching the field at any given point.
My issues are more with over-exuberant fan who cheers/bemoans every pitch- which, really, is kind of their right at a ballgame- and usually that behavior ends after a couple of innings anyway. I also take issue with people who feel the need to stand up throughout the entirety of any transaction with a vendor. You can sit down and people will still pass you the beer or hot dog you just ordered. You don't need to monitor the entire process. That's one time where I do occasionally speak up if some buffoon is blocking the view during a key moment. I also hate the use of obscenities around kids, but that battle was lost long ago.
Worst I've seen was a drunk fat idiot during the second game of a double header stand and wave for two full innings trying to signal to his equally drunk girlfriend who couldn't find her way back to the seats. People behind him were asking him to sit down and he was yelling back at them. That one is on the ushers.
Best I've seen was a few years ago where a teenage kid and his dad were at a game not against the Nationals, but the dad was wearing a Harper jersey. Two guys in their 20s or 30s a few rows back started razzing the dad with utterly uncreative comments. After an inning or two the kid got up and moved to a seat directly behind the two guys and started loudly making fun of their attire. They pretty much shut up after that.
Anyway, if you ask someone to tone it down, and any other fans around you thank you for it, you're probably in the right.
My issues are more with over-exuberant fan who cheers/bemoans every pitch- which, really, is kind of their right at a ballgame- and usually that behavior ends after a couple of innings anyway. I also take issue with people who feel the need to stand up throughout the entirety of any transaction with a vendor. You can sit down and people will still pass you the beer or hot dog you just ordered. You don't need to monitor the entire process. That's one time where I do occasionally speak up if some buffoon is blocking the view during a key moment. I also hate the use of obscenities around kids, but that battle was lost long ago.
Worst I've seen was a drunk fat idiot during the second game of a double header stand and wave for two full innings trying to signal to his equally drunk girlfriend who couldn't find her way back to the seats. People behind him were asking him to sit down and he was yelling back at them. That one is on the ushers.
Best I've seen was a few years ago where a teenage kid and his dad were at a game not against the Nationals, but the dad was wearing a Harper jersey. Two guys in their 20s or 30s a few rows back started razzing the dad with utterly uncreative comments. After an inning or two the kid got up and moved to a seat directly behind the two guys and started loudly making fun of their attire. They pretty much shut up after that.
Anyway, if you ask someone to tone it down, and any other fans around you thank you for it, you're probably in the right.
Yes. I have no idea why anyone would spend $100 or more for a ticket then not want to watch the game. That's like spending $100 on a hooker and not wanting a blow job.
I don't know. I got his point:
1--you like to ask folks what's going on if they're annoying you while you keep score
And
2--Parents should lighten up cuz people swear at stadium
I think his point was, if you can ask parents to overlook swearing cuz, you know, "shit happens", it seems odd that you'd make a point of asking someone about what just happened on the field like it's a pop quiz.
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Well, come on now - folks used to attend games only in suits, ties and hats. I think the excessive drinking and swearing thing is a bit more recent, not "as long as there have been ballparks"....
I don't think it is ever appropriate at a ballpark to be loudly dropping f-bombs for any reason, given it is supposed to be a "family sport" - certainly more so that football for instance - I would never take my kids to an NFL game due to the drinking and swearing I have observed at those venues, but I have no worries about taking them to see a MLB game....
I don't know, man. It's been going on at least 40 years. Special circumstance, but one of my first games was in 1976. During the MFY series following the Lee/Nettles brawl. In the CF bleachers. Right behind Mickey Rivers. And the Sox were getting beat bad. I was 10, and my brother was in his mid-twenties. He had to keep asking me if I was alright. I made it through, but barely. It was insane out there. I was a cursing prodigy, but was unprepared for the racist stuff. Vile, vile words were flying out of those bleachers, man. Someone tried to throw a banana at Rivers, but came up short. Another guy carrying at least 2 beers went sprawling right down the concrete stairs next to me, bleeding (and worse, spilling) all over the place. There were a couple of fights, but the punches were not exactly accurate.
Not a great moment in the ol' rivalry.
I was planning on waiting until my son was seven, but am taking him for his first game a year early on Sunday because of Papi's retirement. I don't go as often as I used to, but we've had a few trial runs at McCoy. I'm hoping he'll enjoy it as much as I did my first trip (a much more sedate afternoon against Texas, as I remember). But, for one thing, I don't think he has the bug as bad as I did. I had it bad, real bad. Then there's the whole cliché about walking up the ramp and seeing The Wall and the grass and the white uniforms for the first time. I absolutely remember how overwhelming it was, and my (not usually very emotional) mother actually tearing up at how excited and happy I was to be there. Then again, we had a crappy TV. I had no real idea what Fenway was going to look like. There has to be a reduction in the Awe Factor due to HDTV. Guess we'll find out. I, at least, can't wait.
I got his point too. But...
1. I don't like to ask loud chatterboxes what's going on when I keep score. I sometimes do that to politely and gently suggest to them that they're being rude.
2. Yeah. However you feel about swearing at ballparks, there's not much you can do about it other than ask people to knock it off. I doubt my "was that a ball or a strike?" trick would be very effective with loudmouths, as opposed to unwitting loudtalkers, and not at all with drunks.
And I don't think it's weird to be more annoyed by someone loudly talking about their colonoscopy at a ballgames than by someone yakking ignorantly (or even expertly) about baseball. I expect both, but loud, non-baseball chatter bothers me much more. If that seems contradictory or hypocritical to you and Paps, or whomever else, I can live with that. I'm full of "it depends" nuance and seeming contradictions. Most of us are.
I can find at least find some amusement in ignorant baseball loud-yakking than in loud not-baseball yakking.
But are you sure it wasn't the colonoscopy guy talking about Depends?
Proud of it? No. What makes you think that?
You're just being argumentative or trying to pick a silly fight.
Hey Paps, what Chase Headly do last inning?
See, this is the great thing about legalizing weed. At Mariners games, people now take their weed to the smoking section near the First Avenue exit.
I wonder what they do at Coors.
What does his weight have to do with it?
And for those saying you shouldn't swear around kids, i agree if they are very young, 5 or under. But older than that sit and read a paper next to a schoolyard when the kids are on recess and have a listen. You just might be shocked at what comes out of their mouths. A lot of them cuss like sailors.
My first port of call if I want to confront someone is to do it privately, i.e. not to stand him up in front of others. Works most of the time...
Poor analogy. That blow job is not likely to be the only on field activity on game day and they're pretty muck OK with the F word. At least, that's what I've been told.
I've been fortunate - to sit in the same seats since 1988, occasionally venturing to other parts of the park when there's a weekend game. I have Mon-Fri on my plan, (B) so if I want to catch a Saturday or Sunday game I have to sit elsewhere.
We generally don't have problems where I sit - peer pressure, it's often the same people around us. In all those years, I have only seen two people ejected from section 15, and four young adults scrambled out when they saw us calling security.
One was what we call a "scalper's dream" or a "one game wonder" - drunk, misbehaved. At an ALCS game. Imagine paying $300-400 to Ratzo Rizzo for a ticket, drinking $9 kiddybrews until you're gassed, and doing everything to draw attention to yourself only to find yourself escorted to Brookline Avenue.
Another was a young man - on Memorial Day - another "(unnamed ticket scalping agency) One Game Wonder" - who showed disrespect and booed the good police officer who sang "God Bless America". I advised him, that I have liberal beliefs but respect the institutions of the United States and Canada, and although I might not like what's going on, I do respect the symbols. He calmed down - but in the next inning he said something to someone near him and the ushers were there to ensure he didn't see the end of the game.
Also saw a group of young adults - when one woman stood up and continually yelled the universal expletive, security was called. They all panicked, and did not walk - but RAN out of the section. By the time security got there they were running away like four scared children - but - the security wanted to know what seats they were sitting in. Obviously they wanted to have a discussion with the holder of that account.
I'm also a BC football season ticket holder. The worst problems were when they migrated games to Foxboro to accommodate one-game wonders. Thankfully - they do not have to do that any more. The 2017 Notre Dame visit will be at Chestnut Hill...
We generally don't have problems where I sit - peer pressure, it's often the same people around us. In all those years, I have only seen two people ejected from section 15, and four young adults scrambled out when they saw us calling security.
One was what we call a "scalper's dream" or a "one game wonder" - drunk, misbehaved. At an ALCS game. Imagine paying $300-400 to Ratzo Rizzo for a ticket, drinking $9 kiddybrews until you're gassed, and doing everything to draw attention to yourself only to find yourself escorted to Brookline Avenue.
Another was a young man - on Memorial Day - another "(unnamed ticket scalping agency) One Game Wonder" - who showed disrespect and booed the good police officer who sang "God Bless America". I advised him, that I have liberal beliefs but respect the institutions of the United States and Canada, and although I might not like what's going on, I do respect the symbols. He calmed down - but in the next inning he said something to someone near him and the ushers were there to ensure he didn't see the end of the game.
Also saw a group of young adults - when one woman stood up and continually yelled the universal expletive, security was called. They all panicked, and did not walk - but RAN out of the section. By the time security got there they were running away like four scared children - but - the security wanted to know what seats they were sitting in. Obviously they wanted to have a discussion with the holder of that account.
I'm also a BC football season ticket holder. The worst problems were when they migrated games to Foxboro to accommodate one-game wonders. Thankfully - they do not have to do that any more. The 2017 Notre Dame visit will be at Chestnut Hill...
First time I got to be at a playoff game was game 3 against Cleveland in the 1999 ALDS. We got tickets through the phone lottery, somehow, but not particularly good ones, way in the back of section 32 or 33.
That was one fired up crowd. My god, it was beautiful. There was an old couple to one side of me, easily in their late 60's but they were giving their all with every chant. Except for one.
Starting early on in the game there was a young couple behind us, particularly the wife, who kept trying to start cheers of "Let's go Red Sox!" . . . in between innings. It was nuts. No one was joining in with them. But they kept trying, with the shouting and clapping right in our ears. Finally I asked them to stop because it was never going to work in between innings. I don't think I was particularly vehement about it at all, something like "Would you cut it out. You can't can't start a chant of let's go red sox between innings." The husband seemed to be fine with it. The wife took deep umbrage at this and told me I wasn't a real fan and said I should go back to the office where I belonged and some more things like that. I don't remember exactly what she said. I remember my buddy thinking it was hilarious that someone was telling me I wasn't into the game enough. I would do it again and I'd say it the same way as I said it but sometimes idiots are deeply invested in their idiocy.
That was one fired up crowd. My god, it was beautiful. There was an old couple to one side of me, easily in their late 60's but they were giving their all with every chant. Except for one.
Starting early on in the game there was a young couple behind us, particularly the wife, who kept trying to start cheers of "Let's go Red Sox!" . . . in between innings. It was nuts. No one was joining in with them. But they kept trying, with the shouting and clapping right in our ears. Finally I asked them to stop because it was never going to work in between innings. I don't think I was particularly vehement about it at all, something like "Would you cut it out. You can't can't start a chant of let's go red sox between innings." The husband seemed to be fine with it. The wife took deep umbrage at this and told me I wasn't a real fan and said I should go back to the office where I belonged and some more things like that. I don't remember exactly what she said. I remember my buddy thinking it was hilarious that someone was telling me I wasn't into the game enough. I would do it again and I'd say it the same way as I said it but sometimes idiots are deeply invested in their idiocy.
The American Association was known as the "Beer and Whiskey League" in 1881. So yes, it has been going on as long as there have been ballparks.
I hate it when the fans in front of me have big hair AND keep turning around with bad breath
(stolen from elsewhere on SoSH)
(stolen from elsewhere on SoSH)
I certainly did not anticipating sharing my story in this thread but we had the WORST experience at Fenway Park last night not due to unruly fans but due to an overly sensitive and aggressive security team which included a uniformed Boston Police officer. If I'm in the wrong here please point it out as I'm really confused......maybe this political correctness this has reached Fenway. This is how I spent the final 2 innings of last nights game.
We are in the front row bleachers (technically row 3 but the first row of seats behind handicapped seating on the rail) behind the Rays bullpen last night. Great atmosphere, great section, everyone having fun, nobody saying anything derogatory. There were 4 young males in their early to mid-20's in the row behind us with another older adult spread out over several seats with a couple empties in between them. A couple times during the game one kid would yell out something to the RF Steven Souza like "Hanley owns you (after Hanley wrapped HR around Pesky Pole then dropped the pop-up in front of him)" or "Sou-za.....Hanley's coming up!" There was like 1% chance Souza heard him, 0% chance anyone in the stands were bothered or offended......I mean, we're in the bleachers on a beautiful night at the ballpark. I smirked at the comments.
Later in the game the kid would yell out "Enny!" when Romero was warming in the pen. Again, nothing derogatory only yelling out his name occasionally as he was warming up. Apparently this got the attention of the security person who called in 2 other security persons AND a uniformed Boston Police officer. At the time I had no idea that additional security was called to wait for him to yell out "Alex!" when Colome got up so he could be warned about his behavior. So that is when incident occurs with no hyperbole added..........
Fenway Security Officer approaches and stands to our immediate left, right on top of the girl I was with making her extremely uncomfortable, in the top of the 9th inning warning one of the guys in his 20's to stop heckling and harassing opposing players. The kid asked what it is that he's doing wrong since he's only calling out the players name. Security again tells him to stop and if he refuses he'll be asked to leave the stadium. Since the officier is in our space I asked him "We have to be silent at the ballpark now? I've never heard of that. The kid isn't bothering anyone." This is when the Uniformed Boston Police Officer arrives standing directly in front of me, staring me down, and telling me to mind my own business that this has nothing to do with me, and continues to stare me down. I ask him, "Why are you staring me down and being aggressive with me? We're just trying to watch the 9th inning." He continues telling me that since I want to make it my business that I can leave also if I'd like while continuing the stare down. At this point it's clear that he has a point to prove so I keep my mouth shut and in 2-3 seconds he finally leaves and returns to his post. Now it's the bottom of the 9th, Betts is up, one of the kids yells out, "C'mon Mookie!!!!" Another kid says, "Quiet, you're gonna get us all thrown out." They laugh, I turn my head around and chuckle with a smile.........to the dismay of Security who again comes over again in front of us as Mookie is at the plate explaining to them how it is against stadium rules to heckle opposing players and that signs stating such are posted which is why he came over last inning. Ok, its the fucking bottom of the 9th inning, the kids have stopped yelling out opposing players names, and this Clownshoes takes it upon himself to play Paul Fuckin Blart as 30,000 people are all on their feet! I say to the guy "Cmon man it's the bottom of the 9th they aren't bothering anyone why are you doing this?" That's all it took for the Boston Police Officer to return, "Ok this is the LAST time I'm coming over here next time I'm taking people with me and you're leaving the stadium!"
It's at this time the girl I'm with sensed me becoming very upset, grabbed my hand, and said "Let's just leave and beat the traffic." and we left Fenway Park with One Out in the 9th inning (we never even saw what Mookie did at the plate). This was the end of what went from the usual great Fenway experience to the worst live sporting event experience that I have ever encountered.
We are in the front row bleachers (technically row 3 but the first row of seats behind handicapped seating on the rail) behind the Rays bullpen last night. Great atmosphere, great section, everyone having fun, nobody saying anything derogatory. There were 4 young males in their early to mid-20's in the row behind us with another older adult spread out over several seats with a couple empties in between them. A couple times during the game one kid would yell out something to the RF Steven Souza like "Hanley owns you (after Hanley wrapped HR around Pesky Pole then dropped the pop-up in front of him)" or "Sou-za.....Hanley's coming up!" There was like 1% chance Souza heard him, 0% chance anyone in the stands were bothered or offended......I mean, we're in the bleachers on a beautiful night at the ballpark. I smirked at the comments.
Later in the game the kid would yell out "Enny!" when Romero was warming in the pen. Again, nothing derogatory only yelling out his name occasionally as he was warming up. Apparently this got the attention of the security person who called in 2 other security persons AND a uniformed Boston Police officer. At the time I had no idea that additional security was called to wait for him to yell out "Alex!" when Colome got up so he could be warned about his behavior. So that is when incident occurs with no hyperbole added..........
Fenway Security Officer approaches and stands to our immediate left, right on top of the girl I was with making her extremely uncomfortable, in the top of the 9th inning warning one of the guys in his 20's to stop heckling and harassing opposing players. The kid asked what it is that he's doing wrong since he's only calling out the players name. Security again tells him to stop and if he refuses he'll be asked to leave the stadium. Since the officier is in our space I asked him "We have to be silent at the ballpark now? I've never heard of that. The kid isn't bothering anyone." This is when the Uniformed Boston Police Officer arrives standing directly in front of me, staring me down, and telling me to mind my own business that this has nothing to do with me, and continues to stare me down. I ask him, "Why are you staring me down and being aggressive with me? We're just trying to watch the 9th inning." He continues telling me that since I want to make it my business that I can leave also if I'd like while continuing the stare down. At this point it's clear that he has a point to prove so I keep my mouth shut and in 2-3 seconds he finally leaves and returns to his post. Now it's the bottom of the 9th, Betts is up, one of the kids yells out, "C'mon Mookie!!!!" Another kid says, "Quiet, you're gonna get us all thrown out." They laugh, I turn my head around and chuckle with a smile.........to the dismay of Security who again comes over again in front of us as Mookie is at the plate explaining to them how it is against stadium rules to heckle opposing players and that signs stating such are posted which is why he came over last inning. Ok, its the fucking bottom of the 9th inning, the kids have stopped yelling out opposing players names, and this Clownshoes takes it upon himself to play Paul Fuckin Blart as 30,000 people are all on their feet! I say to the guy "Cmon man it's the bottom of the 9th they aren't bothering anyone why are you doing this?" That's all it took for the Boston Police Officer to return, "Ok this is the LAST time I'm coming over here next time I'm taking people with me and you're leaving the stadium!"
It's at this time the girl I'm with sensed me becoming very upset, grabbed my hand, and said "Let's just leave and beat the traffic." and we left Fenway Park with One Out in the 9th inning (we never even saw what Mookie did at the plate). This was the end of what went from the usual great Fenway experience to the worst live sporting event experience that I have ever encountered.
I would consider copying and pasting as is and emailing to the appropriate Sox department.
In the midst of all the good they are trying to accomplish with their telethon, they have personnel in the ballpark who have needlessly cemented an image in the minds of several dozen fans that "this team doesn't deserve a single dime from me."
In the midst of all the good they are trying to accomplish with their telethon, they have personnel in the ballpark who have needlessly cemented an image in the minds of several dozen fans that "this team doesn't deserve a single dime from me."
Wow. A few years ago I was along the rail under the Gulf sign along the left field wall. I was regularly (~ once an inning) heckling the visiting left-fielder about his defensive positioning. No profanity, or name calling ... just stuff like "You're playing to close to the wall." or "There's a reason the grass is worn 15 feet in front of you." He had to have heard me, but never reacted. (This is the only time I ever heckled a player. It's the only time I had seats right along the rail and he was playing strangely deep. I half expected him to move in, but of course I'd have commented.) No one complained and security never came over. Your story is mind-blowing to me in the sense that I can't imagine Sox management wanting that behavior from security. A ballgame is not a golf tournament. I agree with joe dokes. Maybe times have changed, but I think it's more likely the officer had a bad day and was ornery.
Walk to 4 Yawkey way, knock on the wooden door, you'll be let in. Try to see then or make an appointment with Stephanie. I forget her last name. And tell her your story in person.
Wow HRB, How the pendulum has swung. 8-10 years ago, I was at an O's game, sitting right where you were. I group of twenty-somethings were hitting the beer hard. And heckling the crap out of any O's pitcher who threw in the pen. All was very loud and filled with profanity. I could not beleive security did nothing. After the starter warmed, they mostly settled down (no one to heckle), but started up again in the late innings.
I don't feel what the kid did/yelled was wrong. Seems weird that he could heckle, without swearing, the fielders but could not even yell out a reliever's name. Maybe it's about the likelihood of the player hearing and not wanting the relievers distracted. Anyway, seems like whatever the rule is/should be, that the security/police around you last night need a lesson in customer service. The message should have been delivered better. Just ask the kid politely and explain the rule the first time. I also think they need to be consistent--it seems like security was annoyed with him by the time the relievers were up. If that's the case, the kid should have been politely asked not to "heckle" the fielders in the first place.
I don't feel what the kid did/yelled was wrong. Seems weird that he could heckle, without swearing, the fielders but could not even yell out a reliever's name. Maybe it's about the likelihood of the player hearing and not wanting the relievers distracted. Anyway, seems like whatever the rule is/should be, that the security/police around you last night need a lesson in customer service. The message should have been delivered better. Just ask the kid politely and explain the rule the first time. I also think they need to be consistent--it seems like security was annoyed with him by the time the relievers were up. If that's the case, the kid should have been politely asked not to "heckle" the fielders in the first place.
Agree 100% with both Joe and Ale. The team should know about your experience.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-maneikis-50854430
You didn't get this from me
I've never seen those signs
It's the same deal, sort of, for the folks who go to concerts and then talk incessantly during the songs. For devoted fans of the musicians or songs, it's unthinkable and ridiculous. But if you're just there for a night out....
Reading HRB's story brought back very different memories from 1978 or 79 (I can't remember which year). I was in the CF bleachers with college friends and for the 1st 6 innings or so, a significant part of the front section of the CF bleachers were heckling Dave Winfield every single time he came out to CF or any ball was hit in his general direction. It was a different era, but I am sure it never crossed anyone's mind that it would attract anyone from security's attention. Winfield in about the 7th, hit a 430 foot or so home run to center field, which I caught (though have long since lost the ball). Winfield couldn't wait to jog out to center, give a quick smile to the fans and tip his hat. The fans were also gracious or semi-gracious ---- "OK you got us this time, but you still suck." I saw an interview of Winfield taped a couple of years ago and he in a good-natured fashion mentioned the incident. Man I wish, I knew where I put that ball.
If it was Winfield it was probably 1981 as he was a Padre until that season. On Sep 18th of '81 he hit a 3-run HR to CF off Frank Tanana Daiquiri in the 6th putting the Yankees up 3-1 (followed immediately by a Pinella solo shot to left). The Sox tied it in the 7th on Dewey's 2-run blast over the Monster, but Stanley ran out of steam attempting an 11-out save and the Sox went down 6-4.
edit: wouldn't have been a save situation for Stanley as the Sox had trailed by the time he came in. Stanley got the loss after giving a run in the 8th and a solo HR to Bob Watson in the 9th.
The Sox would come back the next day when they scored 7 in the 8th after the Yanks pulled Guidry after 7 to give Tudor the win (in relief of Torrez). Hurst would beat Tommy John in the rubber match.
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I think it's equally likely that this is another example of creeping authoritarianism. (Seriously - this is not "political correctness" in any way shape or form.) It's nothing more than the officer trying to be the biggest, unquestioned authority figure there, inserting his subjective personal view as some sort of rule. HRB is lucky that the cop didn't escort him out - all too easy for that to turn into a resisting arrest charge, especially if he didn't kowtow to the cop along the way AND the cop missed watching the 9th (so he could stoke his own ego.)
Uk sox- Of course, you are correct. It was my senior year, not sophomore year. At this point decades run together never mind years. Even before the home run, Winfield took it all in stride.
Technically, it's illegal to use MJ in public in CO. Of course, that's rarely enforced. I've taken my boys to Coors Field 11 times this season and don't recall smelling it in the air at all.
Same in Washington.
If you're in the park but not close enough to the smoking area to smell tobacco, you wouldn't know if people had weed.
If you're in the park but not close enough to the smoking area to smell tobacco, you wouldn't know if people had weed.
The whistling. I mean the whistling where people put their teeth over their lower lip or whatever and let it out. I have really bad ears and that stuff drives me nuts. You're not doing anything to enhance the game or screw with the opposition. You're just pissing the people a few feet (inches?) away from you off. It's the absolute worst. Talk all you want, but that high pitched whistling crap is sheer terror.