# Sore Losers \[Cubs fans and home runs\] **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 3, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380 "2008-10-03T22:34:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/21 "2008-10-04T18:25:43Z")
It is easier for most parks to institute a blanket rule against throwing things onto the field, than it is for them to try and have a rule with known exceptions. It also helps keep other exceptions from getting started. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/22 "2008-10-04T19:37:40Z")
I truly hate this so-called tradition. What happens when a kid catches the ball? Are a bunch of drunks going to boo a kid? ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/23 "2008-10-04T20:31:33Z")
Yes, and they do boo the kid. Not pleasant, but there you are. It’s a great tradition - the idiosyncrasies of parks and teams are what makes baseball wonderful. I’d hate to see baseball become totally homogenized. And **chowder** , no one is going to make you watch baseball or American football. You sit there happy watching your Arabian football. Maybe your boys will win a game or two before the end of the year if they throw another hundred million or so around. (coughs… 4-2 coughs)… ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/24 "2008-10-05T02:03:06Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > It’s just the fan’s way of expressing disgust that they got homered on by the opposing team. No, it’s a **Cubs** fan way of expressing disgust. I would prefer if other teams’ fans found new and different ways of expressing disgust. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/25 "2008-10-05T04:55:12Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > No, it’s a **Cubs** fan way of expressing disgust. I would prefer if other teams’ fans found new and different ways of expressing disgust. Right on, Telemark! The rest of you guys can do the wave :rolleyes: but leave our Wrigley Field tradition to us thank you. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/26 "2008-10-05T06:46:10Z")
> [@villa](#): > > Yes, and they do boo the kid. Not pleasant, but there you are. > > It’s a great tradition - the idiosyncrasies of parks and teams are what makes baseball wonderful. I’d hate to see baseball become totally homogenized. > > And **chowder** , no one is going to make you watch baseball or American football. You sit there happy watching your Arabian football. Maybe your boys will win a game or two before the end of the year if they throw another hundred million or so around. (coughs… 4-2 coughs)… ::ahem:: The 4-2 was _before_ we started playing Arabian football;) ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/27 "2008-10-05T07:47:13Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > No, it’s a **Cubs** fan way of expressing disgust. I would prefer if other teams’ fans found new and different ways of expressing disgust. The hell? What else are they gonna do, Twitter about it? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/28 "2008-10-05T14:35:19Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > No, it’s a **Cubs** fan way of expressing disgust. I would prefer if other teams’ fans found new and different ways of expressing disgust. :dubious: Just because it originated at Wrigley doesn’t mean it’s yours. It’s a universal expression of contempt! You can’t copyright emotion! How many more homeruns will you be returning onto the field at Wrigley this year, by the way? 😉 Damn you Cubs, you were supposed to represent our division this year! ---
**Author:** ![laughingboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@laughingboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laughingboy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/29 "2008-10-05T14:51:51Z")
None of this stuff mentioned in this thread so far is nearly as moronic as another of baseball’s traditions… The “unwritten rule” that says it’s OK to bean an opposing player with the ball when someone has hit a home run, or stood around watching his home run for too long, or whatever… It flies in the face of the phrase **professional** baseball player. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/30 "2008-10-05T18:02:51Z")
> [@laughingboy](#): > > None of this stuff mentioned in this thread so far is nearly as moronic as another of baseball’s traditions… The “unwritten rule” that says it’s OK to bean an opposing player with the ball when someone has hit a home run, or stood around watching his home run for too long, or whatever… > > It flies in the face of the phrase **professional** baseball player. Is that any stupider than the fighting that’s allowed in hockey, though? Neither is integral to playing the game. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/31 "2008-10-05T18:06:40Z")
Someone clarify, please. So, this practice is acceptable only at Wrigley Field? It will actually get you kicked out somewhere else? WTF? This doesn’t even remotely make sense. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/32 "2008-10-05T18:29:15Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Someone clarify, please. So, this practice is acceptable only at Wrigley Field? It will actually get you kicked out somewhere else? WTF? This doesn’t even remotely make sense. Different ballparks, different management, different rules. Cubs ownership loves to encourage Wrigley traditions, because that’s the kind of thing that keeps people coming to the games, even when the team sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/33 "2008-10-05T20:19:48Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > :dubious: > Just because it originated at Wrigley doesn’t mean it’s yours. It’s a universal expression of contempt! You can’t copyright emotion! I’m a Red Sox fan, it’s not mine. Throwing stuff on the field will get you kicked out pretty much everywhere except throwing a HR ball back at Wrigley. It’s universally disallowed (with the exception of Wrigley). IMO, the tradition has a place and history. I equally loathe the idea that they sometimes played “Sweet Caroline” at Shea in the past few years. That’s just wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/34 "2008-10-05T20:22:22Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Different ballparks, different management, different rules. Cubs ownership loves to encourage Wrigley traditions, because that’s the kind of thing that keeps people coming to the games, even when the team sucks. The stadium sucks. Without tradition and sentiment Wrigley would have been torn down years ago and the Cubs would have a new stadium to play in. Instead it’s the same old same old with every aspect of this team. And I mean EVERY aspect. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/35 "2008-10-06T02:37:19Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I’m a Red Sox fan, it’s not mine. Throwing stuff on the field will get you kicked out pretty much everywhere except throwing a HR ball back at Wrigley. It’s universally disallowed (with the exception of Wrigley). IMO, the tradition has a place and history. > > I equally loathe the idea that they sometimes played “Sweet Caroline” at Shea in the past few years. That’s just wrong. Throwing back another team’s homerun ball will not get you kicked out of Comerica Park, based on my experience. It’s not a big tradition here like in chicago, but I can recall it happening every now and then as far back as my childhood(the 80s). ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/36 "2008-10-06T05:06:58Z")
I saw this once when I was 8 years old. I asked my dad why a fan tossed an Astros HR ball back and he said something like “It’d be a shame to take home a Houston ball.” So from then on, I chanted “Throw it back! Throw it back!” at every HR ball my section has caught. If I ever get my hands on an opposite-team ball, I won’t hesitate. It’ll be back on the field quicker than you can blink. IS Pirates Fan ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/37 "2008-10-06T13:07:57Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > ::ahem:: The 4-2 was _before_ we started playing Arabian football;) Yes it was. But I haven’t mocked you about it yet. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380/38 "2008-10-06T13:28:30Z")
There was an amusing incident at Fenway during the 2004 ALCS. The Sox were trailing the Yankees three games to none, everbody expected the Sox to lose, and fans were a little disgruntled. Early in game for Alex Rodriguez hit a home run over the [Green Monster](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Monster), out of the park and onto Lansdowne Street. Someone out there picked it up, figured out it was a Yankee home run, and tossed it over the Green Monster back into center field. Johnny Damon was in centerfield for the Sox; he picked the ball up and threw it back out of the park. Ten seconds later the ball came back. Unfortunately, the ump picked it up and pocketed it. It would have been interesting to see how long that went on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-losers-cubs-fans-and-home-runs/466380.md?page=1)