Philly Front Office

Did you know that since 1955, there have only been 5 forfeits in Major League Baseball? For the most part, since they stopped calling games due to darkness and having enough players is never a problem, forfeits only happen in the most outrageous of circumstances. They don’t happen very often and there haven’t been any in a while, so the plan is to write about all of them throughout the baseball season during my Series Previews. Since we only get to play Cleveland once, you are getting a story on Jose Ramirez and glorious Forfeit #2!

Forfeit #1 – Washington Gives Up on Baseball

Forfeit #2 – 10¢ Beer Night in Cleveland

Forfeit #3 – Orioles Tarpgate

Forfeit #4 – Disco Demolition in Chicago

Forfeit #5 – Dodgers Doing Their Philly Thing

PSP: Washington Forfeits Baseball (Forfeit #1)

The day was June 4th, 1974 and the Cleveland Indians were hard up for attendance. Since society had not yet realized that milkshakes were the best way to bring boys to the yard, Cleveland decided to lower their beer price for the evening to just 10 cents (68 cents adjusted for inflation). It worked. Cleveland Stadium drew 25,000 fans that night, way up from the middling 10,000 they had been averaging. While the fans could purchase only 6 beers at a time, there was no limit to the number of trips each patron could make. The beer flowed like wine.

The problem was not so much the beer, but the opponent, the Texas Rangers. Just 6 days prior, the team’s got into a bit of a scuffle. You may have seen it before, but this was the game where after a hard slide and a ball thrown behind hitter Lenny Randle, Randle laid down a bunt and absolutely lit up pitcher Matt Wilcox. Chaos ensued.

After the game, the pot was stirred by Texas manager and notorious attention seeking alcoholic Billy Martin when he dismissed possible retaliation from Cleveland fans the following week, claiming that there wouldn’t be enough people to make a difference. Cleveland radio and newspapers ran with this antagonism and propped up the rematch.

To try and sabotage potential alcohol abuse, Cleveland had planned to serve beer with a 3.2% ABV. Unfortunately, regular beer 5.5%ABV was served. The people were sloshed. The chants got angry, women were flashing, and a streaker stole 2nd base. Things ratcheted up from there as fans through food and beverages onto the field and even lit firecrackers. Instead of seeing the problem for what it was and trying to stem the alcohol flow, Cleveland actually made it easier to obtain by bringing Beer trucks onto the concourse and the booze straight to the people in line for concessions instead of having them wait (can you imagine???).

The Rangers were up 5-1 before a 9th inning rally tied the game. With the winning run on second base, one final incident caused all hell to break loose. A young man ran onto the field and tried to steal the cap from a Texas outfielder. When he failed, the outfielder tried to kick him and fell. The Rangers thought he had been attacked (technically he was, but in practice he was just angry and clumsy) and the bench emptied to come to his aid. Well now feeling one of their own was being ganged up on, the rowdy fans rushed the field and surrounded the Rangers who had left the dugout! Now seeing that their own brothers in arms were being ganged up on, the Cleveland manager ordered his own squad to leave their dugout to help the Rangers and literally attack their own fans!

Friday Fun: Meet the A’s 11-Year-Old Executive VP

One player was hit in the head with a chair, people were sucker punched, Both teams ended up fleeing to their dugouts and into their clubhouses, but the fans were now incensed and wrecking the place. There were reports of seats being ripped up and thrown, knives, and more firecrackers being tossed. After 20 minutes of rioting, the game was called. Rangers defeat Indians 5-5.

In case you were wondering, it is estimated that 65,000 beers were sold that night. Shockingly, Cleveland held another 10 cent beer night just 2 weeks later, but the 40,000 fans in attendance kept themselves under control. The 250 cops on hand certainly helped.

Info: The Athletic and Big Hair and Plastic Grass by Dan Epstein