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. Let’s go back to Dodger Stadium on August 10, 1995 for the last forfeit in MLB history…

Forfeit #1 – Washington Gives Up on Baseball
Forfeit #2 – 10¢ Beer Night in Cleveland
Forfeit #3 – Disco Demolition in Chicago
Forfeit #4 – Dodgers Fans Throw the Game Away
Forfeit #5 – Orioles Tarpgate

Why don’t stadium giveaways include souvenir baseballs like they do bobbleheads and schedule magnets? Because of the Dodgers, that’s why! For all the flack Philly fans get for their behavior, it was the actions of LA fans that got the beloved souvenir banned from baseball games.

Back in 1995, a lazy August evening was just like any other as 53,361 fans came through the turnstiles at Dodger Stadium to see the home team and rookie phenom Hideo Nomo face the St. Louis Cardinals. The reward for the first 15,000 fans were Dodgers baseballs. In all the previous games the promotion had been held, there had never been a problem.

In the 7th inning, the Dodgers were down 2-0 with Raul Mondesi at the plate and Eric Karros at 1st base. The Cardinals sent their pitching coach out to the mound to talk to starter Mark Petkovsek who was having himself a game. This was when about 100 fans threw baseballs on to the field. The umpires were forced to halt the game for about 15 minutes in order to clean up. Mondesi eventually drew a walk, but Karros was picked off 2nd base and then a double play ended the inning.

In the 8th inning, with a run already in and the Dodgers threatening to tie the game up, Eric Karros was at the plate again and Mondesi on deck. With two outs and two men on, Karros was rung up on a called third strike. The fans believed it was a bad call and a few more balls hit the outfield grass.

Monday, July 20 at 7:10p – Cristopher Sanchez v Emmet Sheehan (R)
Tuesday, July 21 at 6:40p – Zack Wheeler v Eric Lauer (L)
Wednesday, July 22 at 6:40p – Aaron Nola v Justin Wrobleski (L)

Citizen’s Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA

Karros didn’t argue the call at the time, but upon seeing the replay between innings made his displeasure known to home plate umpire Jim Quick. He was tossed and more balls hit the field including nearly hitting Cardinals closer Tom Henke.

With the score 2-1, Raul Mondesi was up and started his at bat up 3-0. A late called 1st strike had Mondesi already taking his walk to first before being called back. Likely due to thinking Mondesi was showing him up and since everyone comes to baseball games to see the umpires, Quick called the next pitch strike 2 despite being way outside. Mondesi flailed at strike 3 and all hell broke loose.

Mondesi was instantly tossed and Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda was soon to follow. That’s when the rest of the fans started peppering St. Louis players and the umpires with their souvenirs. A delay was called again as the Cardinals came off the field and the grounds crew filled buckets with baseballs trying to clean up. Theye were going to give it one more shot.

Just as play was about to resume a ball flew past the head of Cardinals outfielder Brian Jordan and another hit Dodgers hitter Chris Gwynn in the head (he was wearing a helmet). That was it. With one out in the 9th inning and the score 2-1 St. Louis, the game was over.

The Dodgers would appeal the ruling but after 2 warnings to the crowd, they were never going to get this one back. It was important too. At the time, they were down a game in the division and only ended up winning by a single game over the Rockies. As for the officiating crew, they went on the road the next day, up to San Francisco. The long time rivals of the Dodgers knew what happened the night before and the fans gave them a standing ovation upon their introduction for the evening.

Since this game MLB has banned souvenir baseball giveaways before games.

Info: Project 3.18

Photo: MLB.com