During the first game of the 1996 American League Championship Series, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees hit a deep fly ball to right field. As Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tony Tarasco settled under the ball at the edge of the right field fence, 12-year old Yankee fan Jeffrey Maier reached out over the edge of fence and caught the ball with his glove. Instead of the play be ruled an out for fan interference, the umpire ruled the play a home run for Jeter, despite the anger-filled argument by Orioles players and coaches. The Yankees went on to win that game and the series, eventually winning the World Series.
References
Fast Facts
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The umpire, Rich Garcia, should have called Jeter out due to [http
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interference_%28baseball%29#Cases_of_possible_spectator_interference spectator interference]
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Fact:
Many feel the Yankees won on this play, but it only tied the game
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Fact:
Bernie Williams hit a solo home run off Randy Myers in extra innings to win the game for the Yanks
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Fact:
Maier eventually played baseball at and graduated from Wesleyan University
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Fact:
In 2003, Chicago Cubs fan Steve Bartman had the reverse effect as he interfered with an attempt by Moises Alou to catch a ball near the left field foul line. The Cubs wound up losing the game and eventually the NLCS to the Florida Marlins
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Fact:
In 2007, Danny Vinik legally interfered with a pop-up that was attempted to be caught by Angels catcher Jeff Mathis. This led to a run-scoring sacrifice fly that helped the Red Sox win Game 2 of the Division Series.
