Jeffrey Maier

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Jeffrey Maier
Born (1983-11-15) November 15, 1983 (age 40)
NationalityAmerican
Known forInvolvement as a spectator in Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series

Jeffrey Maier (born November 15, 1983) is an American

fan interference. His interference altered the course of Game 1,[1] as the resulting home run allowed the Yankees to tie the score.[2] They emerged victorious from the game and won the series four games to one en route to winning the World Series
.

Incident

On October 9, 1996, the Yankees trailed the Orioles 4–3 in the bottom of the eighth inning when

spectator interference is to be called if "a spectator reaches out of the stands, or goes on the playing field, and touches a live ball".[4]

Right field umpire Rich Garcia immediately ruled the play a home run, tying the game at 4–4, despite the protest of Tarasco and Orioles manager Davey Johnson (the latter was ejected in the ensuing argument).[citation needed]

In right-field, Tarasco...going back to the track...to the wall...and what happens here!? He contends that a fan reaches up and touches it! But Richie Garcia says no...it's a home run!

— Bob Costas on the call on NBC.

The Yankees won the game in the eleventh inning on Bernie Williams' walk-off home run. The Orioles maintained their protest of the Maier play after the conclusion of the game, but their protest was denied by American League President Gene Budig because judgment calls cannot be protested. After viewing the replay, Garcia admitted that there was spectator interference, and he maintained the ball was catchable.[5] Had Garcia called spectator interference, he would have then used his own judgment to determine what the most likely outcome of the play would be – either an out or awarding Jeter a given number of bases.[citation needed]

The Yankees went on to win the series against Baltimore, four games to one, as well as the World Series against the Atlanta Braves. As a result of the play, a railing was added behind the right field wall at Yankee Stadium to prevent fans from reaching over it.[citation needed]

Meanwhile, in New York, Maier became a minor celebrity. The New York Daily News allowed him to sit behind the Yankee dugout later in the postseason. The boy appeared on national talk shows.[citation needed]

Baseball career

Maier grew up in

Pittsfield Dukes in the New England Collegiate Baseball League in the summer of 2005.[citation needed
]

In 2006, he became Wesleyan's career hits leader and was featured on ESPN.

Major League Baseball Draft. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.[citation needed
]

Maier worked in the summer of 2006 as a scout in the Cape Cod League for ESPN's Peter Gammons and also as an instructor for Frozen Ropes Baseball Training Center. Maier later became a special consultant for the New Haven County Cutters[8] and had several internships, including with the YES Network. In addition, he served as an extra and assisted with baseball skills training for the actors in ESPN's miniseries about the 1977 Yankees, The Bronx Is Burning.[9]

Personal life

Maier is married with three sons and lives in New England. [10]

See also

  • Steve Bartman – fan involved in a similar interference incident at the wall

References

  1. ^ Sheinin, Dave (June 2, 2006). "From Way Out in Right Field". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  2. ^ Schonbrun, Zach. In Rematch, Memories of a Stolen Moment, The New York Times, October 6, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  3. ^ "Baseball". Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2006.
  4. ^ "The Official Site of Major League Baseball: Official info: Official Rules".
  5. ^ "Interview with Rich Garcia". Archived from the original on October 21, 2006.
  6. ^ LaPointe, Joe (April 14, 2006). "Boy Who Helped Yankees Is a Hit Again". The New York Times. Retrieved August 18, 2008.
  7. ^ "The Official Site of The Baltimore Orioles: News: Baltimore Orioles News".
  8. ^ "Cutters Add Jeff Maier To Front Office Staff". OurSports Central. August 10, 2006. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  9. ^ "Steve Jacobson". Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ Kepner, Tyler (October 14, 2017). "21 Years Later, Jeff Maier Gets to Relive His Big Moment". The New York Times.

Further reading

External links
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