Game Five Stopped for More than Rain

Yankees Co-Chairperson Narrowly Avoids Embarrassment

October 29, 2008

Boston Gullible

By U. Ben Hadd

The World Series has seen its share of odd happenings over the years, but as temperatures plummeted and rain continued soaking Citizens Bank Park for game five of the World Series, first base umpire Tim Tschida and home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg were in the process of suspending play when Henry G. Steinbrenner stormed into the Fox broadcasting booth during a commercial break.  The players and on field officials knew nothing of what was happening in the broadcast booth.

The Yankees Co-Chairperson had no difficulty in reaching the broadcast booth, as his position with the Yankees and familiar face in baseball allowed him to pass freely through various levels of security.

According to John Filippelli, Fox’s coordinating baseball producer, Steinbrenner demanded to read an on air announcement, that the New York Yankees and Alex Rodriguez had come to terms.  “Bill (Webb, Fox World Series Game 5 Director), called me from the truck and said something was going on in the booth.  Hank Steinbrenner was there and insisted he be allowed to make an announcement.”  Filippelli said that Tim McCarver tried to take control of the situation, thinking Mr. Steinbrenner was there to offer birthday wishes; McCarver recently turned 57 years old in September.  However, things quickly deteriorated when McCarver kept calling Steinbrenner, “Hal.”

Glenn Cooper, Security Supervisor at Citizens Bank Park commented that Steinbrenner had proper credentials and appeared calm.  “He passed all appropriate security checks, and did not appear to any of our team to be a risk.  We had no idea of his intentions.  How could we?”

Joe Buck, who serves as play by play announcer for Fox sports is McCarver’s long time broadcast partner.  “Tim and I were delighted to see Mr. Steinbrenner.  We welcomed him into the booth and I spoke Bill in the truck about how we could leverage this guest appearance into something for our viewers; it was an opportunity.”  But Buck was not prepared for what came next.  “Tim was standing and kept telling Mr. Steinbrenner how wonderful it was for Hal to stop by to wish him birthday greetings.  He pushed Tim to the side and Tim lost his balance.  He grabbed Tim’s microphone, and headset, and began screaming something about Alex Rodriguez.”  McCarver was not hurt in the short melee, and Fox was in commercial break.  No viewers heard or saw the exchange.

As word quickly spread that there was trouble in the broadcast booth, Cooper dispatched a team to investigate.  They found Steinbrenner in a heap on the floor, and he appeared to be muttering to himself.  MLB officials were contacted and spoke to Fox’s producers, wondering if they would be able to continue.  Although MLB refused comment, an unnamed official suggested that the game could not continue if the broadcast team was injured.  The Phillies team physician attended to McCarver and suggested he was okay, only suffering minor bruises in the brief fracas.

Game five was ultimately called due to poor weather conditions that Tschida described as “comical.”

The New York Yankees refused to comment on this story.

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Note from Cyn:  Tru was good enough to pick up the slack that my tired brain has left.  Thanks, Tru!