Posted on 04/18/2005 4:07:22 PM PDT by kingattax
BOSTON (AP) - The spectator who interfered with New York Yankees right fielder Gary Sheffield had his season tickets for 2005 revoked Monday by the Boston Red Sox.
A fan who spilled beer on Sheffield was prohibited from buying tickets for the rest of the season.
"We applaud the Red Sox for decisively dealing with this matter," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement through spokesman Howard Rubenstein.
Boston acted after a four-day investigation following the play last Thursday night at Fenway Park in which Sheffield was chasing a ball along the low right-field wall that Jason Varitek hit for a triple.
The season ticket holder, Chris House, reached over the 3-foot high fence, and Sheffield said he was struck in the face. Sheffield picked up the ball, pushed House, then threw the ball to the infield. Sheffield turned toward House but did not make contact with him again as a security guard jumped over the wall and stood between House and Sheffield.
Major league baseball also is investigating. The name of the other spectator has not been released.
Boston said House would receive full reimbursement when he returns his 2005 tickets. The club said it will consider reinstating his tickets after this season.
The Red Sox cited the season ticket agreement, which states that "interfering with the play of the game in any way will not be tolerated and will be grounds for ejection from the premises, legal prosecution, recission of tickets and cancellation of subscription privileges."
Sheffield's agent, Rufus Williams, and the player planned to meet Tuesday with Bob Watson, vice president in charge of discipline in the commissioner's office. Williams called Boston's actions "a good thing."
"I think that there should certainly be an opportunity for players do their jobs without being interfered with," Williams said. "That sends a message to fans that that's what the expectation is."
Good move by the Red Sox. Classy and professional on their part. I still hate their guts however (Yankee fan).
From one Yankee fan to another, I agree. Sheffield should be exonerated of any wrongdoing. The fan was being an ass and the woman was an accomplice. Rivalry is one thing, but this was totally uncalled for.
yanks-sox is better than the hatfields and the McCoys..lol
"A fan who spilled beer on Sheffield"
Do that at a "T"-ball game and you might be a red neck.
Charges should be brought against the fan who interfered with the play and the one who threw beer.
Agreed. And if the fan's swiping move was a drunken accident, I hope he has the good grace to accept the loss and move on.
As for the putz that threw the beer ... if Fenway was my park, that bozo would be forever banned.
I sure thought his reaction was tempered. Don't think he did anything out of proportion. Not a perfect angel, but certainly not "wrong."
lol
Damn straight.
Agreed, good move by the 2004 Champions .... who caused the biggest choke in professional sports playoff history :). Poltics-wise, you're represented by Chuckie-baby and 'Ol Crusty. I'm represented by overfed Ted and the well-coiffured Kerry. I'd call that a toss-up of losers, wouldn't you?
I am not so sure the fan was trying to hit Sheffield, the tape looks to me like the idiot is reaching for the ball; But what he was doing does not matter -- he was interfering with the action on the field either way.
Kudo's for tossing the ass that threw the beer too.
We Red Sox and Yankee fans need baseball. Something, anything to help us forget that Massachusetts and New York are represented the 4 worst US Senators, the absolute bottom of the barrel. I simply don't know who is worse, or who is the most corrupt, or who is the most evil.
Baloney. Sheffield's a tool. The ball was still in play, Red Sox circling the bases, and he takes time to engage a fan before throwing the ball? What a L-O-S-E-R.
I've never seen a team so set up for gigantic failure and disgrace as the 2005 BoSox.
For those who still attempt to interfere with a player a double row (or more) of razor wire could be strung in tnis area back to the wall which is now the third row retaining wall.
Any ball in play that lands in or bounces into this razor wire area would be ruled as a ground rule double and out of play.
Exactly. I laud him for maintaining his cool. The fan deserved a good ole fashion a$$whooping.
What he did is not a "suspension" offence IMO, but he did shove the fan and as such needs to be punished for that.
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