No one's rushing the field.
February 20, 2012 11:23 AM Subscribe
When and why did pitch invasions/court-storming/rushing the field end in professional, american sports? I see highlights in the 70s from Hank Aaron's 715, Yankees winning their division, even the Celtics winning an NBA championship in the early 80s where the fans celebrate with the players (or try to take hats off of their heads).
In my sports lifetime,(post 1992), I cannot recall a single moment of this happening in pro sports (in America).
Security.
After Stefi Graf got knifed in the mid-90s, security was significantly increased in American sports arenas due to concerns about liability and insurance.
posted by dfriedman at 11:37 AM on February 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
After Stefi Graf got knifed in the mid-90s, security was significantly increased in American sports arenas due to concerns about liability and insurance.
posted by dfriedman at 11:37 AM on February 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
FWIW, it happens all the time in college sports, particularly college basketball.
posted by lewedswiver at 11:50 AM on February 20, 2012
posted by lewedswiver at 11:50 AM on February 20, 2012
After Stefi Graf got knifed in the mid-90s,
That was Monica Seles.
posted by deadmessenger at 11:54 AM on February 20, 2012
That was Monica Seles.
posted by deadmessenger at 11:54 AM on February 20, 2012
Duh. Yeah, Monica Seles, not Stefi Graf. Sorry about that.
posted by dfriedman at 11:54 AM on February 20, 2012
posted by dfriedman at 11:54 AM on February 20, 2012
Best answer: I'd say it got tougher begining in 1973 after Hank Aaron had to share his run around the bases after hitting number 714 with a bunch of fans who had run onto the field. It was an embarassing spectacle for major league baseball.
When the Phillies won the world series in 1980, I remember scores of cops on horses surrounding the field so this began way earlier than the mid-1990s.
posted by three blind mice at 12:42 PM on February 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
When the Phillies won the world series in 1980, I remember scores of cops on horses surrounding the field so this began way earlier than the mid-1990s.
posted by three blind mice at 12:42 PM on February 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
Disco Demolition Night is later than 10 cent Beer Night.
posted by Jahaza at 12:55 PM on February 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Jahaza at 12:55 PM on February 20, 2012 [2 favorites]
To me this seems like just part of the increasing professionalization and commercialization of professional sports. Also, modern stadiums tend to be bigger. And probably we're more litigious.
posted by mskyle at 12:56 PM on February 20, 2012
posted by mskyle at 12:56 PM on February 20, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by sandmanwv at 11:24 AM on February 20, 2012