Baseball has an unfortunate history of fans costing their own teams a chance at MLB playoff glory and that list got another addition on Wednesday night after some unfortunate interference at Yankee Stadium.
During Game 3 of the American League Divisional Series between the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays, a New York fan caused chaos by reaching out to grab a long fly ball hit by Anthony Volpe in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Rays left fielder Victor Mesa Jr. tracked the hit all the way to the wall and attempted to make a leaping grab, only for a group of fans to reach over and grab the ball as umpires initially called it a home run — which would’ve tied the game 4-4.
However, after a lengthy review, officials overturned the call, ruling fan interference on the play – but granting Volpe a double on the play, as Mesa would not have been able to make a catch on the play.
Officials also ruled that baserunner George Lombard Jr. would’ve scored on the play, making the game 4-3.
But here’s where the pain comes in for Yankees fans: The Rays would hold that scoreline for the remainder of the game and complete the three-game ALDS sweep of their AL East rivals.
What did MLB say?
Major League Baseball addressed the incident in a statement, saying that it had “definitively determined the spectator interfered with the ball over the field of play” after looking at “all relevant angles.”
“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,” the league said in a statement. “Additionally, the Replay Official scored one run and placed the batter-runner at second.”
What happened to the fan?
Videos of the incident shot by a fellow spectator in the left-field stands showed the wild celebrations after the incident.
But while the fan who interfered with the play and his friends celebrated wildly as a replay was shown on the stadium’s jumbotron, an audible groan could be heard from others after seeing that the was not, in fact, a legitimate home run.
After the incident, the fan — who was wearing a navy-blue Yankees bomber jacket — was seen being escorted out of the Bronx stadium by an NYPD officer and security.
It’s unclear if he will face discipline from the team or local authorities.
Has this happened before?
Yankees fans are all too familiar with fan incidents involving fan interference.
Thirty years ago during an ALCS between the Yankees and Orioles, a young fan named Jeffrey Maier reached over the wall and grabbed a fly ball hit by New York superstar Derek Jeter. Without the benefit of video replay, the home run call stood and the Yankees would go on to win the game — and later the World Series.
During a World Series game in 2024, a Yankees fan literally ripped the ball out of the glove of Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, who had made a catch in foul territory.
In Chicago, a Cubs fan named Steve Bartman became infamous during Game 6 of the NLCS, when his interference potentially cost his long-suffering team a shot at making the World Series.
With the Cubs leading 3-0 during the eighth inning of the crucial matchup, Bartman leaned over the railing to snag a fly ball that left fielder Moises Alou had been tracking.
With the ball being called foul, the Marlins went on to score eight runs and win the game, then defeated Chicago in Game 7.