Battery throwers at the Stadium?

[stephsamps]

I don't understand how battery throwing started anyway. It's not like its something people carry around with them regularly. Does anyone know the history of this? gotta be much easier to throw an unopened bottle of coke.

[ScubaSteve]

I don't understand how battery throwing started anyway. It's not like its something people carry around with them regularly. Does anyone know the history of this? gotta be much easier to throw an unopened bottle of coke.

I think Philly Eagles fans invented it

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

I don't understand how battery throwing started anyway. It's not like its something people carry around with them regularly. Does anyone know the history of this? gotta be much easier to throw an unopened bottle of coke.

Yeah, it seems like something you really have to plan. I can see going to a game with the intention of heckling a guy, even bringing a personalized sign, but actively deciding to bring some batteries to chuck? That's pretty low. I'll buy ScubaSteve's theory for where it came from.

[Davios]

I am not sure why the references to the Sheffield incident are being brought up. That was viewed as inexcusable as well, it certainly doesn't justify or minimize this claim. I don't think he would just make something up, but if it did happen, it was likely a couple of people or even just one. Not everything needs to become a battle about who's fans are better or classier etc. If it happened, its total BS, if he is making it up, than he is being a clown or telling a second hand story as though it were first hand, which is also quite lame.

It was brought up becaue Papelbon wasn't simply trying to recount come offhand story, he is clearly trying to imply that there are Yankees fans who are way out of control. Which is clearly the case in most stadiums today. All he would have to do is open up his eyes in his own ballpark rather than act like some popmpous fool and point out other team's crazed animals.

[AnibalTheCannibal]

Funny how many in the beginning of this thread are instantly calling Papelbon a liar. Because there's just no way anyone would throw things at a player Both the Red Sox and the Yankees have their fair share of jerks. I was at Arod'sfirst game at Fenway as a Yankee, and turned a kid in who had a rock in his hand. He hadn't done anything with it, but we were about three rows deep over the Yankee dugout, and really, it was obvious what he was doing. Security came over, and found that he had a velvet Crown Royal bag hidden down his pants that had about 20 good size rocks in it. Obviously he was ejected, but the point is, there are jerks everywhere. Just because someone threw a battery doesn't mean Yankee fans are animals. It means that there happened to be a jerk in the stands and Papelbon pointed it out. Too funny that people believe that he's lying.

[buckyjacobson]

Good to see people comparing throwing batteries to throwing beers and spitting. While all are despicable beyond that there's simply no comparison.

[AJW]

Anyone else think Papelbon is exaggerating?

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal..._join_bullpen/



I thought anyone who actually does throw serious sh*t like batteries these days is usually ratted out or spotted and ejected. Actually, throwing anything would probably get you in hot water right away.

Also, this supposedly happened last year and only now we're hearing about it?

That's nothing new. I heard someone threw a D battery at Amos Otis back in the heat of the KC vs. NYY rivalry back in the mid to late 70's.

[Davios]

Good to see people comparing throwing batteries to throwing beers and spitting. While all are despicable beyond that there's simply no comparison.

Oh I'm sorry, perhaps you would rather compare the batteries that were chucked at the Yankees in 1999 following the Yankees ALCS win????

And those weren't batteries thrown in the bullpen, they were thrown at players on the field who had to be escorted off by security. And yes, I know that security came on the field in ALCS in 2004, however, like I said before that is the mentality of organized sports today. Papelbon shoudl look at all of the facts rather than sit there and try and point out specific incidents by Yankee fans.

[buckyjacobson]

Oh I'm sorry, perhaps you would rather compare the batteries that were chucked at the Yankees in 1999 following the Yankees ALCS win????

And those weren't batteries thrown in the bullpen, they were thrown at players on the field who had to be escorted off by security. And yes, I know that security came on the field in ALCS in 2004, however, like I said before that is the mentality of organized sports today. Papelbon shoudl look at all of the facts rather than sit there and try and point out specific incidents by Yankee fans.

That somehow justifies it? Somebody acting in a criminal way 7 years ago makes it OK for somebody to act in a criminal way now?

And how does or should that matter to Papelbon? "Hmm, people were throwing batteries. Well, I guess that's cool because people have done it before in Fenway."

Are you really trying to somehow justify this kind of behavior or blame Papelbon?

Look, this is really simple. Any Yankees fans throwing batteries are as*holes. Any Red Sox fans throwing batteries are as*holes. Any other fans throwing batteries are as*holes.

And none of it compares to throwing a beer or spitting. But you know that.

[Hawaii Yankee Fan]

i came to the stadium for my first time in five years last years and while i did not see batteries thrown, I witnessed two people throwing objects into the bullpen area.

[Casey at the Bat]

What purpose would Papelbon have for fabricating this story? I really can't believe the people who are either defending the battery throwers by saying "So, you do it too!" or by calling Papelbon a liar with nothing to really back up their claim.

As someone already said, ANYONE who throws anything on the field is a jackass and deserves to be ejected, arrested, and jailed. It doesn't matter if they wear pin stripes, red socks, dodger blue, or puke-orange. Nor does it matter if they are throwing batteries, fouled off balls, giveaways, spit, beer, or even trash. No one goes to work expecting these things to be thrown at them. Baseball players really shouldn't be any different, no matter how much freakin money they may (or may not) make.

[Meecham4ever]

I hear you but ever since the bullpen brawl in Fenway hasn't pen security been taken more seriously in both towns? I really don't see how someone could chuck something into the Sox pen without getting nailed.

Also the incident you reference is before the new era of security resulting from incidents involving William Ligue, Frank Francisco, Karim Garcia, et al., not to mention fear of terrorism.

Sure, I bet some things always slip through the cracks and go unpunished, but just not buying this one.

This may have been brought up already, BUT...last week, when Damon first went back to Fenway...before the game, he held a press conference, right after Tito did....Tino...Tito?..had the Sox banner behind him while he did HIS press conference....when Damon came in to do HIS press conference, there was a short break while they changed out the Sox banner to a Yankee banner....the guy who was changing it was the idiot who brawled with Garcia and Nelson in 2003....swear to god. (unreal)

[JWHIII]

....the guy who was changing it was the idiot who brawled with Garcia and Nelson in 2003....swear to god. (unreal)

They had no grounds to fire the guy, Garcia and Nelson were charged with assault over the incident. Can't fire a guy for getting beaten up on the clock.

[Casey at the Bat]

They had no grounds to fire the guy, Garcia and Nelson were charged with assault over the incident. Can't fire a guy for getting beaten up on the clock.

okay, that was funny. i dunno why, but it did make me laugh out.

[Panamaniac42]

Well, I said a couple times that I have no way of knowing for sure.

My main point, I suppose, is that if it IS true, it's unbelievable that in this age of heightened security around the MLB that someone could get away with throwing batteries.

I really thought that, league-wide, we had a grip on this sh*t. Also, with media outlets covering everything on the Yankees-Sox including each player's sperm count, I was shocked we didn't hear anything about this incident last year. That's why I was/am doubtful...and again, I have no know of knowing...some of you say it did happen and I'll take your word. It's a damn shame for sure wherever it occurs, batteries could really f*ck someone up.

But I guess we really have nothing on Euro basketball...they throw burning hot coins at you while shooting free throws supposedly

[patrick.o]

My main point, I suppose, is that if it IS true, it's unbelievable that in this age of heightened security around the MLB that someone could get away with throwing batteries.

I really thought that, league-wide, we had a grip on this sh*t.

The two freaks who attacked Tom Gamboa on the field did that a full year after 9/11. If an organization is unwilling to make a show of force, as is the case with most sports teams, then there is really only so much you can do.

The thing that I have trouble with is that people actually do things like that. It's the act itself, it just boggles my mind. I mean, I can sort of comprehend being in the heat of a high stress game and someone in a fit of anguish or frustration throws their beer or their sandwich or their crumpled up cup or whatever on the field. But no one just happens to be holding a battery or a rock or a coin. That's a premeditated act. That's someone thinking, I'm going to wing this out there and maybe I'll get lucky and hit one of those guys and hurt him good. It's such an amazing combination of depravity and cowardice. At the risk of sounding like a bleeding heart, it makes me ache to think that people allow themselves to act that way.

[Panamaniac42]

The two freaks who attacked Tom Gamboa on the field did that a full year after 9/11. If an organization is unwilling to make a show of force, as is the case with most sports teams, then there is really only so much you can do.

The thing that I have trouble with is that people actually do things like that. It's the act itself, it just boggles my mind. I mean, I can sort of comprehend being in the heat of a high stress game and someone in a fit of anguish or frustration throws their beer or their sandwich or their crumpled up cup or whatever on the field. But no one just happens to be holding a battery or a rock or a coin. That's a premeditated act. That's someone thinking, I'm going to wing this out there and maybe I'll get lucky and hit one of those guys and hurt him good. It's such an amazing combination of depravity and cowardice. At the risk of sounding like a bleeding heart, it makes me ache to think that people allow themselves to act that way.

Yep yep. Disgusting.

Anyway (slightly OT) - speaking of beer-throwing, I love the guy who just chucked his beer in the air as Tino's grand slam entered the upper deck in '98...can't get enough of that replay.

[LuckyLopez]

Well, I said a couple times that I have no way of knowing for sure.

My main point, I suppose, is that if it IS true, it's unbelievable that in this age of heightened security around the MLB that someone could get away with throwing batteries.

I really thought that, league-wide, we had a grip on this sh*t. Also, with media outlets covering everything on the Yankees-Sox including each player's sperm count, I was shocked we didn't hear anything about this incident last year. That's why I was/am doubtful...and again, I have no know of knowing...some of you say it did happen and I'll take your word. It's a damn shame for sure wherever it occurs, batteries could really f*ck someone up.

But I guess we really have nothing on Euro basketball...they throw burning hot coins at you while shooting free throws supposedly

I see rules get broken all the time. Some are mundane and harmless like smoking cigarettes in your seat, some are middle ground like sneaking booze in, and some are bad like fights and throwing stuff. It happens. And as tight as the Yankee Stadium security often is they really can't catch everything. Especially in a packed stadium with a good mix of Boston and Yankee fans. A lot of it becomes about being at the right place at the right time. If something doesn't become a scene, it can probably get by as long as you do it behind the right guys' backs.

A couple of tossed batteries is a single arm motion that wouldn't be that hard to hide if you were trying. Its different if you're cursing at the bullpen, making a show of it, or anything like that. But if your goal was to just toss stuff because you were amused by it you could probably pull it off easily. If the Sox pen then points it out to someone the security probably gets on guard for it, but unless someone caught you and is ready to rat you out how can they catch you? Its just too much ground to cover.

As for media coverage, a couple of thrown batteries really is something of a minor issue. If noone gets arrested, no player gets hit or throws a fit, and noone brings it up than how does it get reported? It seems like a simple enough thing to fly under the radar as long as no players threw a fit about it. And while some people choose to paint Papelbon as a whiner, the context of that quote really makes it sound like it was just something he was saying. "Its good that I get comfortable pitching in Yankee Stadium because the crowd can be hostile. I saw this happen last year so I need to be ready and calm." It didn't sound like he was whining about it, calling out Yankee fans, or making a statement about one base over the other. He was merely addressing an obstacle he faces in Yankee Stadium.

That last part probably was probably directed at other comments in the thread. Sorry about that.

[SoCal Pinstriper]

I think Philly Eagles fans invented it

I would not be surprised if you are right, but I first heard of it in the seventies, and it was in Cadlestick Park.

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

I see rules get broken all the time. Some are mundane and harmless like smoking cigarettes in your seat, some are middle ground like sneaking booze in, and some are bad like fights and throwing stuff. It happens. And as tight as the Yankee Stadium security often is they really can't catch everything.

Exactly. There's no way they can prevent people from bringing in small things like batteries, nor is there any way they can have an eye on everyone in the stands to make sure nothing ever gets thrown or anything like that. It's unfortunate stuff like this goes on, but it's not that surprising.

[#9]

I've seen it and reported it at Yankee Stadium. Security did nothing though.

[sharoncass]

That's nothing new. I heard someone threw a D battery at Amos Otis back in the heat of the KC vs. NYY rivalry back in the mid to late 70's.

How about darts being thrown at Yankees at Fenway in the 70's:

September 1974: In a game at Fenway Park, Yankees first baseman Chris Chambliss is struck in the right arm with a dart thrown from the stands after hitting a triple.

[NDBoston]

How about darts being thrown at Yankees at Fenway in the 70's:

September 1974: In a game at Fenway Park, Yankees first baseman Chris Chambliss is struck in the right arm with a dart thrown from the stands after hitting a triple.

I take your dart and beat it with a knife.

When Joyner's team, the California Angels, met the New York Yankees in a game in August 1986, a fan threw a knife at him. Joyner was grazed on the left arm by the butt end of the weapon, escaping injury. Said Joyner: "I picked it up and gave it to [Angels' manager] Gene Mauch.

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

I take your dart and beat it with a knife.

I remember that game. Pretty scary what could have happened.

[PeteRFNY]

The battery story is complete BS (this is coming from somoeone who knows how things work in security at Yankee Stadium).

ONE guy threw a battery in 1977 and now it's the world's most out-of-control urban legend since someone woke up in a tub of ice without a liver.

Prezels? Cups? Scorecards? Seen 'em all. The next battery that flies out of the stands will probably be the second.

They won 2 out 3...you think they'd quit thier bitchin' but I guess not.