Introduction to Baseball Spectator Fatalities
Baseball is one of the most popular sports in the world, with millions of spectators watching each game. Unfortunately, there have been numerous cases of spectators being killed at baseball games. This article will explore how many spectators have been killed in baseball, and the circumstances that led to these tragic events.
Deaths at Professional Baseball Games
There have been numerous cases of spectators being killed at professional baseball games. The most infamous incident was the 1979 stampede at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. On June 14, 1979, a crowd of over 50,000 fans were attending the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers. During the seventh inning stretch, the fans started rushing the field in an attempt to get autographs from the players. Unfortunately, the surge of people caused a stampede that resulted in eleven people being killed and over fifty people being injured.
In addition to the stampede at Riverfront Stadium, there have been other deaths at professional baseball games. In May of 1993, a fan at a minor league game in New York was struck by a foul ball and died from his injuries. In August of 1995, a fan at a major league game in Pittsburgh was struck by a line drive and also died from his injuries.
Deaths at Amateur Baseball Games
Although there have been fewer cases of spectators being killed at amateur baseball games, there have still been some tragic incidents. In July of 1990, a spectator at an amateur game in California was struck by a batted ball and died from his injuries. In April of 1997, a spectator at an amateur game in Illinois was struck by a batted ball and also died from his injuries.
Deaths of Players in Baseball Games
Although not as common as deaths of spectators, there have been some cases of players being killed in baseball games. The most famous incident was the death of Ray Chapman in 1920. Chapman, who was playing for the Cleveland Indians, was struck in the head by a pitch thrown by Carl Mays of the New York Yankees. Chapman was carried off the field on a stretcher and died from his injuries the following day.
Deaths of Umpires in Baseball Games
Umpires have also been killed in baseball games. In September of 1896, umpire Thomas Lynch was struck in the head by a thrown ball and died from his injuries. In April of 2000, umpire John McSherry collapsed on the field and died from a heart attack.
Deaths of Employees at Baseball Stadiums
There have also been some cases of employees at baseball stadiums being killed. In April of 1970, an usher at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles was struck in the head by a foul ball and died from his injuries. In August of 2005, a groundskeeper at Fenway Park in Boston was killed when a tarp machine malfunctioned and pinned him against a wall.
Deaths of Fans at Baseball Stadiums
In addition to deaths of spectators at baseball games, there have also been some cases of fans being killed at baseball stadiums. In August of 2002, a fan at Yankee Stadium in New York was killed when he fell from the upper deck. In April of 2003, a fan at Turner Field in Atlanta was killed when he fell from the upper deck.
Deaths of Fans Away from Baseball Stadiums
There have also been some cases of fans being killed away from baseball stadiums. In April of 1988, a fan in Philadelphia was killed while being chased by two police officers after he threw a firecracker onto the field at a Phillies game. In April of 2002, a fan in San Francisco was killed when he was struck by a car while running across the street after a Giants game.
Deaths Caused by Rioting Fans
There have also been some cases of fans being killed due to rioting at baseball games. In June of 1977, a fan in Philadelphia was killed when he was hit in the head by a flying bottle during a brawl between fans and police at a Phillies game. In August of 2006, a fan in Detroit was killed when he was struck by a thrown rock during a riot following an Tigers game.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there have been numerous cases of spectators, players, umpires, employees, and fans being killed at or near baseball games. The most infamous incident was the 1979 stampede at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, which resulted in eleven people being killed and over fifty people being injured. In addition, there have been numerous deaths caused by foul balls, falls from the upper decks, and rioting fans. These tragic incidents serve as a reminder of the dangers of attending baseball games, and the need for increased safety measures to protect spectators and players alike.
Keywords: Baseball, Spectators, Killed, Professional, Amateur, Players, Umpires, Stadiums, Rioting