When a pitcher beans a batter in baseball, it can sometimes lead the offended party to charge the mound and spark a brawl.
But usually the one charging the mound doesn’t come from the crowd.
That was the case this week at Whataburger Field during a AA game between the Corpus Cristi Hooks and the Midland Rockhounds . Hooks first baseman Telvin Nash was beaned by a pitch from Blake Hassebrock, a play that on its face seemed normal. Nash trotted to first while Hassebrock walked back to the mound, composing himself for the next batter.
But in the stands, one fan wasn’t having any of it. The clearly intoxicated man climbed over the fence and ran onto the field in protest , charging straight toward Hasesebrock and trying to square up against the pitcher.
Blake Hassebrock looked quite surprised to see a fan trying to take him on, and danced a bit to get away from the angry man, buying just enough time for one of his teammates to run in and knock the fan to the ground.
Several other players then threatened the man before the umpires were finally able to herd him back to the stands (apparently Whataburger Field doesn’t want to invest in real security guards).
Police did catch up with the fan, who was nabbed on several charges.
He was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication, criminal trespass at a sporting event. No word on assault charges. #cchooks
— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) July 14, 2014
The incident was reminiscent of some other famous fan interrputions . In 2002, a father and son ran onto the field to pummel Kansas City Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa, for no apparent reason at all.
The drunk fan who charged the mound didn’t seem to phase the Midland Rockhounds, who went on to win 14-1.
