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| The Cubs and Chicago Police are looking for a fan who tossed a beer on a Phillies outfielder during a game at Wrigley Field on Aug. 12, 2009. Major League Baseball |
Posted: Thursday, 13 August 2009 7:41PM
Beer-throwing fan turns himself in
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Mike Krauser Reporting
CHICAGO (WBBM/AP) - The daylong search is over and the person believed to be beer tosser has turned himself in, police said.
During the fifth inning of Wednesday night's Cubs-Phillies game, one Wrigley Field bleacher dweller took out his frustration with the Cubs' poor performance on Shane Victorino.
With the bases loaded, Jake Fox lofted a fly ball to the warning track.
Just as the ball was about to fall in Victorino' glove, the contents of one fan's beverage was projected onto the center fielder's head.
Victorino made the catch, and Sean Marshall tagged and scored on the play.
Sun-Times photographer Tom Cruze immortalized the moment—for better or worse—in the accompanying photo.
Wrigley Field security moved in quickly to escort the fan from his seat, but upon further review, they targeted the wrong fan.
The real culprit was quietly sitting a few seats away as the "fall guy" was hauled away.
The real tosser then slipped out of Wrigley Field, causing a daylong buzz of, "Who is he?" Now, police say they know.
The Chicago Cubs are a little red-faced over a beer-throwing incident at Wrigley Field yesterday. And they're asking police for help.
SORRY BUT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HAS TAKEN DOWN THE VIDEO
WBBM's Mike Krauser reports it was the 5th inning, the Cubs' Jake Fox hit a sacrifice fly into left center. Philadelphia outfielder Shane Victorino caught it in left-center and was doused with beer.
It was obviously intentional. A fan in the front row is seen tossing the beer from his waist in a quick jerking motion and then sitting back down. He scored a direct hit on Victorino.
The security guards showed up and arrested the wrong guy! The beer thrower is seen pointing at himself as the security guards arrest the other fan. The other fan protested as they dragged him away, the instant replay clearly shows he didn't throw the beer.
MEANWHILE, Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino filed a police report Thursday, a day after getting doused with beer while making a catch at Wrigley Field.
The incident is being investigating as a ``simple battery,'' police spokesman Michael Fitzpatrick said.
Victorino was hit with a cup of beer thrown from the bleachers Wednesday night in the Phillies' 12-5 win over the Chicago Cubs. The All-Star outfielder still managed to make the catch, and Cubs' management apologized to him Thursday.
``It's part of the game. It's one of those things that happens and I just want to make sure that guy gets what's due,'' Victorino said.
``I think he needs to be held accountable. But for the most part, I just see it as the guy thought it was fun. It is what it is. It didn't cost me in any way and it didn't hurt me in any way. It's part of the ballgame,'' he said.
Cubs chairman Crane Kenney apologized in person to Victorino before the series finale. Cubs manager Lou Piniella and general manager Jim Hendry also offered apologies.
``I said, 'Listen, sorry,''' Kenney said after talking to Victorino near the Phillies' dugout.
``It shouldn't have happened here. It's not a good reflection on our city or organization,'' he said. ``We're going to do whatever we can to make sure that things are made right here. And he said, 'I know you are and I appreciate your help.'''
Victorino was on the warning track and in front of the ivy-covered wall, set to catch a sacrifice fly by Jake Fox in the fifth inning, when the cup of beer came flying out of the bleachers and went all over him.
According to local media reports, security personnel questioned a man who was taunting Victorino while the fan who actually threw the beer got away.
``I just think that, not so much that I want to press charges or file anything against him. I just think he's probably sitting at home thinking he got away with it. I hope that he gets the understanding that you can't be doing things like that,'' Victorino said.
``I don't think he'd be walking too far if something like that happened in the streets. It's just not something that you do. For the most part, in the big picture, this guy should be held accountable and something should be done,'' he said.
Kenney called the incident ``an assault.''
``The obvious one is he threw some beer on him. But let's say the beer was in his eyes and he got hit in the head. Then, what's the next thing that gets thrown from the stands?'' Kenney said.
``It just can't happen for safety reasons and it's just not right.''
One of baseball's most-known beer showers also came in Chicago. In the 1959 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, White Sox outfielder Al Smith was at the wall trying to track a home run when a fan's beer sprayed in his face.
The picture of Smith getting doused - the beer spilled when the fan tried to catch the ball - remains one of baseball's most famous photos.
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Contents of this site are Copyright 2009 by WBBM. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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