Currently the Detroit Tigers are competing for the American League Championship and they can thank Hillsdale College alumnus Mark Beauchamp `93 and his friend John Bendzinski for their contribution in the division series.
The Tigers were three innings away from being eliminated from the American League Divison Series by the Oakland Athletics. The Tigers trailed by one run in the bottom of the seventh when Victor Martinez put a good swing on a pitch. Josh Reddick chased the shot to the right-field wall and leaped to rob Martinez of a game-tying dinger, unfortunately for Reddick, Bendzinski and Beauchamp were already camped out under it.
“I don’t think he had a chance,” Beauchamp said. “He made a great play, but I think he was about a half of a foot short. I did reach over the rail, but I think it was going to hit the pole.”
Their first row seats in right field entitled them to any souvenirs that escaped the yard. However, on Martinez’s home run, Reddick thought the fans interfered with the catchable ball.
“I don’t blame Reddick for being frustrated,” Beauchamp said.
“Where the fans can affect the play, it can change the momentum. And it changed the momentum for them and changed the momentum for us,” Reddick told Jim Caple of ESPN. “All you can look at as home-field advantage and it being absolutely frustrating that a fan can change the outcome of a game.”
A home run is one of few reviewable plays in Major League Baseball. Rule 3.16 in the official rules of baseball states:
“No interference shall be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk. However, should a spectator reach out on the playing field side of such fence, railing or rope, and plainly prevent the fielder from catching the ball, then the batsman should be called out for the spectator’s interference.”
The umpires reviewed the play and ruled defendants Bedzinski and Beauchamp not guilty. Martinez’s home run would switch the momentum into the Tiger’s favor, meanwhile the Athletics would fail to score in the rest of the series and the Tiger’s would advance.
“It’s nice to think I may have helped the Tigers win, but I haven’t been thanked by the coach yet,” Beauchamp said.
