Foul Ball
Laura Kerod had great seats.
She and her husband Kevin were cheering for their local New Jersey minor league baseball team—the Trenton Thunder —sitting enviably close to the dugout.
Ms. Kerod turned to check the score board, then turned back. “And boom, it hit me,” she said of the foul ball that slammed into her face, ripping her lip, shattering her teeth, and fracturing her palate.
Between doctor visits and surgeries, the Kerod’s started contacting politicians and circulating a petition, advocating for changes that would make a trip to the ballpark safer, including more protective netting and medical coverage for injured spectators.
To which baseball officials replied, read your ticket—there’s an inherent risk from stray bats and balls that’s spelled out and also announced before each game.
But baseball has a special appeal to families, countered Mr. Kerod. Kids and parents don’t read their tickets at the baseball stadium. “Families should be able to go there and feel safe,” Mr. Kerod said. “When you go there, you see police, and they’re protecting you from terrorism. Who is protecting us from bats and balls?”
Another New Jersey baseball fan disagreed. “With great seats comes great responsibility” he stated. “You, the spectator, must take personal responsibility for your safety.”
Tell us what you think—should the responsibility for such a serious injury be the responsibility of the fan? Does America’s favorite pastime need to be made safer for the people sitting in the seats?
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Comments
Picking the right seats
It amazes me how many people sit close to the action, and don’t pay attention to the game. When sitting close up, you cannot take your eye off the ball, and you can’t turn your back on the field except in-between innings. People who want to mitigate this risk can sit in the outfield or the upper deck. Its scary when I see a young mother holding a baby, sitting behind the dugout, and talking to her friend sitting behind her with a player up at bat.
Neil Leibowitz | 1 year, 11 months ago
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Love the way you think
I love the way you think. An age limit would be wonderful. Children are less likely to pay attention, and more likely to cause those around them to pay less attention. An age limit — ingenious!!
Dani O'Malley | 1 year, 11 months ago
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Absolutly
I could not agree more!! Our court’s are to tied up as it is with frivolous law suites. We defiently don’t need to make America’s past time tainted anymore than it already is by involving America’s new favorite past time frivolous law suites!!!
Mike Purcell | 1 year, 11 months ago
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pay your money and take your chances
i have watched my San Jose giants play Cucamonga and see two little old ladies get smacked by foulers, and get taken by ambulance. i have been screamed at by balls behind the foul screen directly behind home plate at the concession in Elsinore.
i have also had a foul fly go right behind my back into my seat pocket at a Irvine /Santa Clara game. a foul ball pinballing at speed in the stands is a dangerous thing. that is why it is printed on the ticket you risk yourself. don’t like it, don’t go. Thats baseball.
jim smith | 1 year, 11 months ago
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Untitled
As pretty much everyone else stated, if you got to the game, pay attention!! Stadium owners provide as safe an environment as they can without taking away the ambience of the game itself. They don’t put nets in front of the dugouts, they put them behind home plate as this is a tough spot to sit in & react quick enough to protect yourself if needed. That is why the umps & the catchers where masks. Batters in the on-deck circle wear helmsts because they are batting next & are much closer to the batter than anyone else (next to the catcher & home plate umpire). You have an obligation as a fan to pay attention when necessary. It is the same as at a hockey game. When the puck is in play, pay attention. When the baseball is in play, pay attention. This is an obvious & common sense answer. Just imagine, next someone will want to sue someone because they spilled their hot coffee on themselves….oh wait, that already happened!!!!
Joe Onderick | 1 year, 11 months ago
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Safe Venue Required owners
The Catcher and Umpire behind home plate are protected, with the required safety equipment, so should the spectators behind home plate watching the game
Famous Former Catcher | 1 year, 11 months ago
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Safety Equipment
Interestingly, the catcher and plate umpire wear padding and masks, the batter and the player in the on deck circle do not. They are expected to pay attention. Last year Juan Encarnacion got hit in the face by a foul ball while in the on deck circle….he may never play again due to the injury to his eye. While not very common, this is considered part of the game.
As a fan who loves the game, on days when I don’t want to worry about foul balls, or thrown bats, I’ll sit behind the screen or in the upper deck. But if I choose to sit behind the dugout, I bring a glove, and don’t take my eye off the ball.
Neil Leibowitz | 1 year, 11 months ago
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Batter Up!!
In this sue happy America; this is just another case of let society pay for my decisions. If I choose to go to a ball game and get hit in the face by a rogue foul ball that is my problem, just like if I choose to smoke I face the chance of getting lung cancer. People need to start being held accountable for their actions. Ignorance is not an exception to the law. My suggestion, next time pay attention to the game and bring a glove.
Greg Harris | 1 year, 11 months ago
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be a kid
Funny, but seldom do you ever hear of a kid getting hit with a bat or a ball. maybe it should be mandatory that anyone over 21 should be accompanied by a kid to a baseball game.
chad spahr | 1 year, 11 months ago
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oops!
If you are watching the game you shouldn’t really have to look at the scoreboard anyways. If you do look, wait until after the pitch or play is made. Do you really even need a reminder on the ticket? How about you purchase some catchers gear and wear it to the games so you can feel safe. I don’t want a stupid net in front of me when I have great seats behind the dugout. If you can’t pay attention then sit upstairs and give the good seats to people who enjoy the game more than you do and like to watch the game.
Mr. Met | 1 year, 11 months ago
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