Wrigley Field Foul Ball That Knocked Out Woman Has Fans A Little Freaked Out
By Kate Shepherd in News on Aug 25, 2015 3:47PM
Empty stands at the September 3 game against the Mets.
Everyone who has attended a baseball game has noticed how often foul balls end up flying into the stands. After a woman was hit by a foul ball at Wrigley Field on Sunday and taken out on a stretcher, fans and players are talking about safety concerns at ballparks across the country.
When asked about the issue, Cubs Manager Joe Maddon said that fans have to pay attention to every single pitch and not turn their back to the game, CBS reported. It's good advice, but the balls move off the bat so fast that fans sometimes have very little or no time to react.
Every MLB ballpark has a screen behind home plate but they vary in size, according to ABC7.
"Personally, I think the screen behind home plate should be extended down the right and left field lines," Cubs fan Brandon Koretz told reporters. "I think it's a small price to pay to save a life."
Some fans argue that they want a clear view of the field and would rather take the risk of being hit by a foul ball than sit behind netting. Thanks to technology there is netting available that does not distract from watching the game, according to the Tribune.
Players are also concerned about spectator safety. Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander and Nick Catellanos both called for stadium improvements after a fan was recently hit by a foul ball in Detroit.
"I hope it doesn't take somebody getting hit in the head and dying for them to do that," White Sox player Gordon Beckham told ABC7. "But it seems like a lot of times society wants to wait for something that bad to happen and then they'll make the change."