We don't often see an umpire eject a fan during the course of an at-bat, but happened Tuesday night during the Giants-Phillies game in Citizens Bank Park.
Home plate umpire Bob Davidson took off his mask and started walking toward the dugout of the visiting Giants, but he was looking right past them at one particular fan. And he tossed him with the help of stadium security.
The footage:
Now, we need to lay it out here. First of all, "Balkin'" Bob Davidson has a negative reputation among many fans, media, managers and players. He has what many like to call "rabbit ears" when it comes to complaints and has had this reputation for a long time.
That being said, watch the video and notice the reaction of the fans in the shot. Upon cursory glance, it appears most of them -- Giants and Phillies fans alike -- started clapping and cheering when they realized what was happening. Multiple Phillies reporters (like this one) noted that this particular fan had been yelling all game, and they are all the way up in the press box.
Here's what Davidson had to say after the game on the matter, per The Philly Voice:
"All of a sudden -- in what inning was it? -- this guy starts yelling, 'You suck!' You could tell he was (drunk). And so, all right, "suck" is not bad.
"Then he kept it up for two hitters completely. Then the third hitter after the first pitch, he says, 'I own property on 69th street. You could come over and suck!' That's when I turned around and said, 'You know what, get rid of this guy.'
"You could have your wife, girlfriend, kids -- they buy tickets. They don't have to come here and listen to that. That's exactly what he said to throw him out."
FIRE EMOJI
Heckling is fine. Being a public nuisance is a bit much. Let's just remember to not paint all Philly fans with the same brush. Lots of Phillies fans in the area were supportive of the ejection of this rogue heckler.
