The radio said yesterday (10/09) was the 5 yr anniversary, I believe, of a controversial catch where a NY Yankee fan leaned out from the stands to catch a potential Oriole homerun - changing it to a ground-rule double, I think.
Can someone confirm the date? It must have been the tail-end of the season, but I don’t remember it that way…
Wasn’t that in the playoffs?
I guess that would make sense. If the Orioles made it to the play-offs, it must have been a fluke. The Orioles usually manage to self-destruct in September - if they can keep from coming unglued prior to that! …Sorry to say 
Yeah, it was game 1 of the 1996 ACLS. Can’t confirm the exact date, though.
Erm, ALCS. I have no idea what “ACLS” is.
It was October 9, 1996 (Game 1 of the ALCS as stated above)
However, you have the story a bit wrong. Derrick Jeter of the Yankees hit a long fly. The Orioles’ Tony Tarasco was camped under it. The ball never got to Tarasco thanks to Yankee fan Jeffery Maier. The umpire probably should have called Jeter out for fan interference, but instead signalled homerun. the Yanks went on to win the game, the ALCS, and the World Series.
here ya go.
http://www.recordernews.com/1996/1010/natsport/angel/angel.html
Game 1 ALCS, Yankee stadium. A fan reached over the wall and snatched a long fly ball hit by Jeter bat into the stands.
The umpire ruled no fan interference and a home run. Replays showed the ball was likely going to drop into the field of play for an out, and that there positively was fan interference.
The home run tied the game, which the Yankees later won in extra innings.
The 12-year-old kid who reached into the field of play (Jeff Maier) became the toast of the town since the Yankees won. Appearances on the morning talk shows, etc. etc.
The things we teach our kids these days…
–jack
Thanks, Jack! (and others) for refreshing my memory…
I don’t know…must have been a little drunk at the time!
I simply wasn’t right!
Way off topic, but “ACLS” sometimes means Advanced Cardiac Life Support in paramedicine circles. It’s required training in Ohio for EMT-P certification.
Way off topic, but “ACLS” sometimes means Advanced Cardiac Life Support in paramedicine circles. It’s required training in Ohio for EMT-P certification.