Most infamous interference moments in baseball history
NEW YORK (BVM) — Fans in every sports league have had great moments. On May 31, this dad made an amazing catching with his baby in his hand.
GIVE THIS DAD CATCH OF THE YEAR! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Nratabnmk1
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 31, 2022
However, with great fan moments like this, there have been bad interactions and interferences by fans as well. Here are the top 10 notorious fan interference moments in MLB history.
- Phillies Fan tassed
On May 3, 2010, a Philadelphia Phillies fan ran onto the field only to be tackled by the local police at the game. And although it had little impact on the game, the incident sparked discussions about the ethics of taking care of fans rushing onto the field.
- Mookie Betts vs. Astros fan
In the 2018 ALCS, former Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts attempted to rob a hard-hit ball by Jose Altuve. It looked like Altuve homered, but a fan happened to reach over the fence and interfere with Betts’ glove.
The call on the field was a home run, but the Red Sox challenged the play. After the review, the call on the field was reversed, and Altuve was called out and shifting the game’s momentum. The Red Sox would win the series 4-1 and go on to win the World Series.
- Hank Aaron 715 HR
April 8, 1974, signaled one of the most significant accomplishments ever seen in baseball. Hank Arron passed Babe Ruth for most home runs hit in MLB history. It still didn’t significantly affect the accomplishment, but both fans were quickly taken off the field by police.
The two fans, Britt Gaston and Cliff Courtenay, the two fans who greeted Aaron, were reunited with him in 2010.
- Baby catch
Although it’s not the most notorious occasion of interference at Wrigley Field, this one is a little more enjoyable to watch.
Jason Hammel hit a pop-up to shallow right field, and Adrian Gonzalez rushed over to catch the ball. But his attempt was foiled as a fan reached over and grabbed the ball barehanded while holding his baby.
It was ruled a foul ball, but the umpires revied it and overturned the call to fan interference, ending the inning for the Cubs.
- Chris Chambliss walk-off
Game 5 of the 1976 ALCS gave baseball fans one of the most exciting yet frightening scenes to be seen on a TV screen.
Following a walk-off home run to send the Yankees to the World Series, a sea of fans rushed the field and mobbed Chambliss as he rounded the bases. In fact, there were so many fans that he didn’t even get to touch home plate.
- Disco demolition night
On July 12, 1979, the Chicago White Sox hosted what would become one of the worst promotional nights in MLB history. The team offered 98-cent tickets, and the Whtie Sox were scheduled to play a doubleheader. After the first game, local radio members were going to destroy disco records.
But as records were being destroyed, fans started to storm the field. It continued, and so many fans had rushed the field that it was in no condition to play. The White Sox had to forfeit the second game of the doubleheader.
- Gary Sheffield vs. Boston fan
The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is one of the most storied rivalries in sports. There have been some ugly moments when the two teams have met. That includes when a Boston fan punched Sheffield.
Sheffield fielded a ball that was hit to the right field wall in Fenway Park. That’s when a fan looked to connect an uppercut to Sheffield’s face. Sheffield threw the ball back to the infield but quickly confronted the fan. Luckily for the fan and Sheffield, nothing else would come of it.
The fan was ejected from the game, but not arrested.
- 10 cent beer night
It was another promotion disaster. The Clevland Indians, now Guardians, hosted the Texas Rangers on June 4, 1974. And to draw fans to the stadium to see the game, the team charged only 10 cents for beer.
During the entirety of the game, fans became disruptive. They danced on top of the Rangers dugout, threw food at the players, and even rushed the field during play.
But in the ninth inning, the flood gates would open. A fan rushed the field and took one of the Rangers outfielder’s hats but tripped and fell. While the fan was lying on the ground, the Ranger outfielder kicked him. That sent the Cleveland fans into a frenzy.
Fans raised the fields fighting each other and the players. It was too much for the security at the stadium as the raucous crowd quickly became a riot. When the dust settled, fans, players and umpires were injured. The field was also a complete wreck. Thanks to this promotion, Cleveland forfeited the game.
- Jeffery Mair’s home run catch
In the eighth inning of the 1996 ALCS, 12-year-old Jeffery Mair would become a part of baseball history. Derek Jeter hit a deep drive to the short porch at the old Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees trailed by a run, and the young Mair reached over the wall and caught the ball. It was called a home run. The Yankees would go on to win the 1996 World Series.
But thanks to Mair, his catch remains one of the top moments in Yankees lore.
- Steve Bartman
During the 2003 NLCS, the Chicago Cubs were up 3-2 and were ready to break the “Curse of the Billy Goat.” That was until the top of the eighth inning when Luis Castillo hit a pop fly to foul territory on the left side of the outfield.
Cub outfielder Moises Alou rushed over to make a play on the ball. But Alou wouldn’t make the catch as Bartman’s hands reached the ball before the ball reached Alou’s glove.
The Cubs would give up eight runs in the inning and drop Game 7 to the Marlins. A lot of other things went wrong for the Cubs in those two games, but Cub fans blamed Bartman for the loss.
But 13 years later, the Cubs would capture a championship, and all was forgiven.
