When baseball fans attend a game, bringing home a souvenir baseball is often a top priority. The physical reminder of their time at the ballpark can solidify memories and be shared with loved ones. Fans often scramble to catch a ball that leaves the field of play, especially if it has a special story attached to it, like being used in a World Series game. However, in order to keep the ball, it must no longer be in play during the game.
During Game 4 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, a fan interfered with a play that resulted in Gleyber Torres being called out. This isn’t the first time a fan has interfered during an MLB game. Some notable incidents include the Steve Bartman incident in the 2003 NLCS, where Bartman’s interference led to the Chicago Cubs losing the game and the series. Another incident involved a young Yankees fan, Jeffrey Maier, helping Derek Jeter hit a crucial home run in the 1996 ALCS.
The rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox also saw a fan getting into a scuffle with Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield in 2005. More recently, a fan interfered with Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts during the 2024 World Series, and in 2018, another fan interfered with Betts during the ALCS. These incidents serve as reminders that fans need to be mindful of their actions during games to avoid interference with the players.
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