Major League Baseball should consider severe punishments for fans who intentionally reach over the wall to interfere with play.
Wednesday night, a Yankees fan reached over the left field wall to grab a ball off the bat of Anthony Volpe. The play was initially called a two-run, game-tying home run. However, upon replay review, the call on the field was overturned.
The Yankees fan had interfered with the play. The ball was not going to leave the ballpark, but it also wasn’t going to be caught. So, the umpires made it a double with a run scoring.
“After viewing all relevant angles, the Replay Official definitively determined the spectator interfered with the ball over the field of play. The ball would not have left the playing field nor would it have been caught. The call is OVERTURNED, there was spectator interference and no home run. Additionally, the Replay Official scored one run and placed the batter-runner at second,” MLB announced.
While it’s tough to know if the Yankees fan knew that he was reaching over the wall in that moment, it was pretty blatant.
MLB fans attending games and sitting in those outfield seats – or seats down either baseline – need to know that this simply won’t be allowed. The emotions can get the best of you, sure, but there’s no need to ever reach over the wall like that.
Severe punishment, including a stadium ban, should be in play when a fan interferes like this.
Even New York Yankees fans are furious with this spectator.
“Kick these fans out. Might have changed the entire game and series. Ban them for life,” one fan wrote.
“How could a ‘fan’ do this? Was catching a ball worth screwing your team? How does this keep happening? Ban him for life,” one fan added.
“These Yankees fans are idiots. Get them out of the stadium and ban them for life. It’s the playoffs, don’t touch the ball. This is the second time tonight our own fans have played a factor in a potential home run/ play,” one fan added.
The Yankees are trailing the Rays, 2-0, in the five-game series. That moment could turn out to be a huge one.
