GOES to show, you should never look a gift horsehide in the mouth.
On August 10, 1995, the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted Ball Night -- a promotion that saw thousands of free commemorative baseballs given away to fans attending a game between the Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Everything was tickety-boo until the ninth inning, when the home plate umpire ejected Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda for arguing a strike call. Within seconds, fans showed their displeasure with the ruling by launching their mementoes onto the field, in the direction of the officiating crew.
Despite repeated warnings to cease, desist and root, root, root for the home team, the aerial assault continued until the umpires were forced to cancel the remainder of the match, and award the victory to the Cards. It was the first forfeit of a major league game in 54 years.
Which raises the question: when the Winnipeg Goldeyes dole out souvenir balls, bats and bobbleheads at Canwest Park, does management ever worry that those keepsakes will back to haunt and/or hurt them?




