Diamond Madness: Classic Episodes of Rowdyism, Racism and Violence in Major League Baseball

The Strange, Rowdy, Violent and sometimes Racist Relationship between Major League Fans and Players

For more than one hundred and thirty-five years baseball has been considered America’s game. Major league baseball was the first sport in the country to be played before large crowds in enclosed stadiums. Also it was the first sport to have its games broadcast daily on powerhouse 50,000 watt radio stations from the east coast to the Great Plains.

For as long as the “Grand Old Game” of baseball has existed there has been a close relationship between the fans and players. Generally that relationship has amounted to harmless hero worship; fathers passing stories of the grandstand heroes of their youth on to future generations of fans. However, at times a dark side has come to the fore in the relationship between fans and players; one that has been rowdy, sometimes racist, sometimes violent and in some cases deadly. Episodes of rowdyism and violence involving fans and players in major league baseball tend to attract wider media coverage and tend to be more controversial than those in other professional sports because baseball is an environment considered to be family oriented and one deeply rooted in American culture through legends, song and verse.

Contents:

Mugging The Umpire

Ty Cobb Attacks Fan

Troubles for John McGraw

Babe Ruth booed, wants to fight fans

Memorable Incidents of Post Season Fan Rowdyism

Eddie Waitkus shot By Deranged Admirer

Mystery Bullet Kills Fan at the Polo Grounds

The Duke of Flatbush fights Fan in the Queen City

Personal Troublers and Death Threats for Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin

Jim Piersall vs. the Fans

Henry Aaron, Racism, Death Threats and 715

Steel City Melodrama

Ten Cent Beer Night in Cleveland

Lyman Bostock shot and killed in Gary, Indiana

Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park

Joe Morgan illegally arrested at Los Angeles International Airport

The Steve Bartman Affair

Giants Fan Is Beaten Senseless at Dodger Stadium

Major Leaguers as Crime Victims

Latin Players: Big Contracts and Security Risks

Appendices:

True Bill – Indictment of Ruth Ann Steinhagen

Petition filed on behalf of Ruth Ann Steinhagen