19. The Indians’ Fans Go to War With the Rangers
In the 9th inning, a seriously drunk fan jumped into the field, grabbed an outfielder’s cap, and began running around wildly. When he finally dropped the cap, the livid outfielder kicked him. At that point, the Texas Rangers’ manager Billy Martin, who had never been known for cool-headedness, grabbed a baseball bat. Turning to his players and rallying them like a Civil War colonel pumping up a regiment for a bayonet charge, Martin urged his team: “Boys! Let’s get ’em!”
Following their leader, the Rangers stormed the field with their bats, to do battle with the fans who by then had knives, chains, and other improvised weapons. In the ensuing battle between the Texans and the Indians fans, things started out well for the Rangers, but it did not take long before the locals’ numbers began to tell, and they got the upper hand in this bizarre war.