04-18-2005, 10:27 PM
BOSTON -- The spectator who interfered with New York Yankees right fielder Gary Sheffield had his season tickets for 2005 revoked Monday by the Boston Red Sox.
A fan who spilled beer on Sheffield was prohibited from buying tickets for the rest of the season.
"We applaud the Red Sox for decisively dealing with this matter," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement through spokesman Howard Rubenstein.
Boston acted after a four-day investigation following the play last Thursday night at Fenway Park in which Sheffield was chasing a ball along the low right-field wall that Jason Varitek hit for a triple.
The season ticket holder, Chris House, reached over the 3-foot high fence, and Sheffield said he was struck in the face. Sheffield picked up the ball, pushed House, then threw the ball to the infield. Sheffield turned toward House but did not make contact with him again as a security guard jumped over the wall and stood between House and Sheffield.
Major league baseball also is investigating. The name of the other spectator has not been released.
Boston said House would receive full reimbursement when he returns his 2005 tickets. The club said it will consider reinstating his tickets after this season.
The Red Sox cited the season ticket agreement, which states that "interfering with the play of the game in any way will not be tolerated and will be grounds for ejection from the premises, legal prosecution, recission of tickets and cancellation of subscription privileges."
Sheffield's agent, Rufus Williams, and the player planned to meet Tuesday with Bob Watson, vice president in charge of discipline in the commissioner's office. Williams called Boston's actions "a good thing."
"I think that there should certainly be an opportunity for players do their jobs without being interfered with," Williams said. "That sends a message to fans that that's what the expectation is."
A fan who spilled beer on Sheffield was prohibited from buying tickets for the rest of the season.
"We applaud the Red Sox for decisively dealing with this matter," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement through spokesman Howard Rubenstein.
Boston acted after a four-day investigation following the play last Thursday night at Fenway Park in which Sheffield was chasing a ball along the low right-field wall that Jason Varitek hit for a triple.
The season ticket holder, Chris House, reached over the 3-foot high fence, and Sheffield said he was struck in the face. Sheffield picked up the ball, pushed House, then threw the ball to the infield. Sheffield turned toward House but did not make contact with him again as a security guard jumped over the wall and stood between House and Sheffield.
Major league baseball also is investigating. The name of the other spectator has not been released.
Boston said House would receive full reimbursement when he returns his 2005 tickets. The club said it will consider reinstating his tickets after this season.
The Red Sox cited the season ticket agreement, which states that "interfering with the play of the game in any way will not be tolerated and will be grounds for ejection from the premises, legal prosecution, recission of tickets and cancellation of subscription privileges."
Sheffield's agent, Rufus Williams, and the player planned to meet Tuesday with Bob Watson, vice president in charge of discipline in the commissioner's office. Williams called Boston's actions "a good thing."
"I think that there should certainly be an opportunity for players do their jobs without being interfered with," Williams said. "That sends a message to fans that that's what the expectation is."
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