Lawsuit Asks Major League Baseball To Put Up Safety Nets All The Way To Foul Poles

consumerists ^ | July 13, 2015

[SMGFan]

The complaint contends that MLB stadiums only have enough safety netting to protect “VIP” patrons in the most expensive seats immediately near the home plate area and leaves the rest of the lower level seats at risk for injury.

The lawsuit is seeking class-action status to represent anyone who purchased a season ticket to a major or minor league baseball game and whose seats are located in any exposed area between home plate and the the right and left field foul poles.

Rather than looking for a cash payout, the plaintiff is asking for the court to require that all MLB and minor league stadiums be retrofitted to protect the fans in these seats.

[Pelham]

Just get rid of the maple bats. Those are the ones that explode into shards.

[Pelham]

She was hit in the face and suffered life-threatening injuries.

http://nypost.com/2015/06/12/woman-hurt-by-bat-at-red-sox-game-released-from-hospital/

https://www.gofundme.com/TCRoadtoRecovery

[Tennessean4Bush]

This is going to far.

I disagree, it isn't going to far. However, I think it may be going too far.

[grania]

How about people who don’t want to accept the risk save themselves some money and sit half-way up in the upper grandstand, or somewhere else that’s safer?

[Rodamala]

Here's your sign:

[Rodamala]

How about people who don’t want to accept the risk save themselves some money and sit half-way up in the upper grandstand, or somewhere else that’s safer to stare at their smartphones and text message their girlfriends for 9 innings?

Fixed it.

[Psalm 73]

Or put down your damned I-phone and pay attention the game.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

How many have been killed with this problem vs how many were killed driving to the ball parks. ban cars and keep your PC ideas to yourself, leave baseball Alone!!!

[Poison Pill]

The pussification of America continues apace.

[P.O.E.]

August 17, 1957

Richie Ashburn hits fan twice with foul ball

Richie Ashburn hit Phillies fan, Alice Roth, with two foul balls in the same at bat. The first broke her nose and the second hit her when she was being carted off on a stretcher

https://www.phillysportpast.com/event/richie-ashburn-hits-fan-twice-with-foul-ball

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

Take your glove and stay alert.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Richie visited her in the hospital after the game, and they became life-long friends.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Hockey faced a similar problem several years ago: a young girl sitting up behind the goal was killed by a puck. In response, the NHL installed netting up behind the two goal-lines--but not down the sidelines. The Commissioner predicted, "After three minutes the fans won't even see it anymore."

MLB's Commissioner has said they're studying it. Obviously, netting 330' down to each foul pole will never happen.

If I were MLB, I would videotape tonight's Home Run Derby winner (since Giancarlo Stanton has a broken hand) standing publicly at home plate later and throwing a bat as far as he can toward the stands; then I'd install sloped netting to that distance in each ballpark. It's instant lawsuit protection and public relations genius, as visibly doing everything reasonable. If you're not sitting behind netting, you've assumed the risk yourself.

[tenger]

I knew someone who was hit by Richie Zisk's broken bat once in the late 1970s. I think he broke a tooth. All part of the game and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I think he was on the 3rd base side of Three Rivers.

why stop at a net? Why not plexiglass walls like they have in hockey?