Josh Hamilton throws souvenir ball into stands at Rangers game tonight...fan falls 20 ft trying to

[Horse with no Name]

catch it and dies en route to the hospital.

How tragic.

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/30516115
>>>snip
A game between the Rangers and A's in Texas Thursday night yielded tragic news from off the field. During the second inning, Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton picked up a foul ball and tossed it up into the crowd. A fan leaned a bit over the rail to catch the ball, lost his balance and fell about 20 feet behind a video board. He was pronounced dead less than three hours later.

“We are deeply saddened to learn that the man who fell has passed away as a result of this tragic accident,” Rangers president and CEO Nolan Ryan said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Reportedly, the man who fell was a firefighter and was with his son, estimated six to eight years old. (all info above courtesy of Foul Territory, a Rangers blog)

The Rangers clubhouse was closed after the game and the A's players were reportedly devastated after having witnessed the fall (Susan Slusser via Twitter). In fact, A's relief pitcher Brad Ziegler said he saw the man was conscious and asking stadium officials to look after his son (Slusser Twitter).

[Renew Deal]

1. Life is a crazy thing.

This situation is so unlucky and so sad.

[Kaleva]

2. One never knows when it's time.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. RIP and I hope his son finds a way

as well as the players, the sense of guilt...

[tuckessee]

4. Big lawsuit coming soon.

That idiot Hamilton should know better than to throw a ball irresponsibly into the stands where it would be difficult to catch or cause a melee. Always toss the ball directly to someone you have made eye contact with.

I wonder if he has a habit of making tosses like that so he can watch fans strain to catch it or cause a scrum just for laughs.

[we can do it]

6. Really? Baseball Tickets Explicitely Say YOU Are Responsible

players routinely toss balls into the stands, have you ever been to a game? What if some dumbass leans over the upper deck to catch a ball and falls? Another lawsuit?

more like a darwin award

[trumad]

8. Oh bullshit....

Yeah---like he purposely threw it to the exact spot where the fan had to strain.

Dumb post

[mopinko]

11. hope that is sarcasm

cuz that ain't the way it works. get smacked with a flying ball or a broken bat and you will get great first aid. but you cannot sue.

[ms liberty]

12. Ridiculous remark; have you seen the video? I have. It was an accident...

The Rangers aren't my team (I'm a Braves fan), but I watch baseball pretty much every day of the season and have for more than 20 years. I'm very familiar with the game and with many, if not most, of the players. Josh Hamilton didn't act irresponsibly or in the malicious way you insinuate. Hamilton's toss wasn't into a crowd, nor was it far off the mark - but the man lost his balance. Balls are tossed into the stands for fans in every single game I've ever watched, multiple times per game. This was not any different than any of those. Sometimes accidents happen.

[Rebubula]

16. Wow....

...that was an awesomely idiotic statement.

Hamilton is going to live with his guilt.


You do know that they throw these balls into the stands AT ALL STADIUMS AND AT EVERY FUCKING GAME????????????????


I bet you are a hoot at parties...

[MilesColtrane]

17. The man who fell was calling for the ball.

Hamilton didn't indiscriminately toss it into the stands, he was flicking it specifically to the man who fell.

What's your next baseless accusation, that Josh Hamilton deliberately under threw the ball so the guy would fall trying to catch it?

[Johonny]

5. is me or have fans been falling over the rails more

in the new stadiums built over this last wave. I really never heard of it in the old crappy cookie cutter stadiums.

[JVS]

7. That's a sad story.

[Blue_Tires]

9. that's one of the reasons why tossing the ball in the stands is a fine

in the NFL...

[PCIntern]

10. Having been to literally hundreds of baseball games,

I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often. Terrifying to watch and to think about...the primal urge to get a ball is remarkable and irrational, but all of us have participated, most of us unsuccessfully.

Worse than any stadium I've ever been in is the amphitheater section at the Academy of Music here in Philly. You walk down to a very low rail that you'd go right over if you tripped or misstepped. You'd plunge to your death without question. Frightening...

[deutsey]

13. This is one of those stories I read in the morning and am haunted by all day

Very sad and tragic. My thoughts go out to the son and his mother.

[smokey nj]

14. My husband told me about this earlier this morning. It's impossible for me not to tear up

when I think about it. My heart breaks for everyone involved.

[marmar]

15. People lose their minds when a baseball is headed toward the stands.....

..... I've seen children stomped and people jabbed in the face. It's a baseball....it's not worth a life.

[UTUSN]

18. It's Shrub's ex-team, his goose/golden egg. Just choose to say. n/t

[DiverDave]

19. SUE??

No, I don't see how it was anyones fault but the fans.

He had a decision to make and he made a bad one.
I feel soo sorry for the son and family, but it was dumb to reach that far.