This piece has virtually nothing to do with the Dodgers, but I figured a little levity was in order as we reminisce about the worst promotional event ever in the history of baseball. The late Tim Russert, former host of NBC’s Meet the Press, was a law school student in Cleveland in the mid-seventies. He summed up the 1974 Cleveland Indians promotion, “10 cent beer night” with an extremely telling quote:
”It was something we could have all predicted. l went with 2 dollars in my pocket. You do the math.”
There have been a few promotions that went hay-wire and resulted in forfeits. A few can be tied to flamboyant owner Bill Veeck, such as his “Disco Demolition Night” at old Comisky Park. The Dodgers aren’t strangers to them as they forfeited a 1995 contest to the Cardinals on the last “Ball Day” that the club will ever have in history when fans began shelling the field with them after Tommy Lasorda argued a call with Joe West. But on June 4, 1974, the Cleveland Indians ninth inning forfeit to the Texas Rangers should have been predicted from the outset. When you essentially give away close to free alcoholic- beverages, you’re simply asking for trouble.
The Indians in the mid-seventies were a sorry crew. Finishing in close to last place almost every year. The Tribe usually were in first place just one day each season, opening day. It should be noted that 1974 was an exception though, as late as July 2nd, the Indians were within 2 games of first place before the wheels fell off.
Attendance in 74,000 seat capacity Cleveland Municipal Stadium was usually sparse. They played almost every night in that monstrous ballpark to crowds of 4,000 and 5,000. There couldn’t be a more difficult job I can imagine than that of being a public relations director for the Indians. It would be quite the chore to invent ways to get fans in the seats. Desperation must have really been in play for the Indians to announce three ‘10 cent beer nights’ at the Stadium that year. There had to be some sort of forethought with it, but not a lot. That forethought was that a buyer of beer was limited to six 12-ounce cups per purchase. Unfortunately for the Indian organization, they failed to monitor the number of return trips for patrons as they purchased more suds.
The Tribe hosted Boston the night before when they defeated the Red Sox 4-1 before only 4,234 fans. The Indians P.R. team had to be pleased when 25,000+ fans arrived to take advantage of the cheap beer for sale accompanied by a baseball game against Billy Martin’s Texas Rangers. The Indians were accustomed to playing before docile crowds that filled only 15% of the seats, but this group was active from the start. Some patrons had anticipated the partying festivities before the first pitch and brought in firecrackers that popped off in echoing fashion in numerous parts of the stadium as early as the first inning.
By the second frame, a woman had hopped the fence adjacent to the Cleveland dugout and flashed her breasts to the crowd. Making her way to home plate umpire Nestor Chylak for a kiss, she was apprehended and arrested. This was just the start of things. Reports from witnesses at the game claim that a large part of the crowd was made up of under-age drinkers who were the recipients of the suds from the buying patrons on many occasions. When Ranger Tom Grieve homered in the top of the 4th, a teenage streaker made a run for the infield and slid into second base, not something recommended while scampering around in the raw. The next inning a father and son ran around the outfield mooning the crowd and causing a substantial delay before security was able to catch up to the evading hooligans.
As the game went on, the antics that many considered “comedy” started to become uglier. Future Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins was the Rangers starting pitcher and he was hit in the chest by a liner back up the box, to which the fans laughed and then began chanting, “hit him again, hit him again, harder, harder.” Billy Martin came out to argue a call at third base and was plastered by sloshing cups of beer as he returned to the dugout. When beer started to run out in concession stands, unhappy patrons became more violent and started dismantling the rickety seats of the old ballpark. Fights in the stands were constant and there was little if any police presence. Concessions personnel announced to fans that beer was available beyond the outfield walls where their cups were filled directly from Stroh’s Beer trucks through hoses attached to spigots.
The umpiring crew ordered the bullpens emptied when a fan tossed fire-crackers into the Rangers side. These weren’t small pop type fireworks of the Chinese New Year variety. They were dangerous cherry bombs and M-80s whose volume in the spacious ball park sounded like hand grenades. The Cleveland Municpal Stadium Security crew was completely overwhelmed.
In the eighth inning, a group of thugs entered the field and attempted to remove the padding from the outfield walls. Why? Who knows, but a mob of drunk crazies demanding more beer can do riotous things. The security crew that was picking up litter on the field abandoned that task and went to left field to save the wall. As the P.A. announcer attempted to calm the crowd and stop them from littering the field with debris, it was obvious that all control was lost. Full beer cups, batteries pulled out of transistor radios, and eventually concrete chunks as well as seat parts were making their way onto the field through the air.
In the ninth inning, the Tribe rallied to tie the game and another fan ran out on the field to right fielder Jeff Burroughs and flipped off his cap from behind. Others say he stole his glove. Whatever it was, Burroughs reacted by going after the fan and tripped in the process. Billy Martin, seeing that his MVP outfielder was down on the ground ordered his players on the field to defend him, lugging bats as protection. “Let’s go get ’em boys!” he ordered. It is estimated that Burroughs was surrounded by up to 20 fans that were cornering him to attack when his Rangers teammates came to the rescue.
All hell had broken loose, and Indians manager Ken Aspromante ordered his players on the field to come to the defense of the Ranger players too. Complete mayhem ensued. Cleveland announcers Herb Score and Joe Tait were at a loss for words describing the action: “This is an absolute tragedy…I’ve been in the business for over 20 years and I have never seen anything as disgusting as this…I just don’t know what to say,” reported Tait. There were over 50 players, coaches and umpires battling it out with fans and they were way outnumbered. Some estimated that over 200 spectators were now active brawlers on the field fighting. Though many of the players had bats to defend themselves, players are quoted as saying that fans were wielding clubs that were actually arms of dismantled seats, metal seat parts and others had knives. It’s a miracle that no one was seriously hurt. “The security people are just totally incapable of handing this crowd,” said Tait. “They just—well short of the National Guard, I’m not sure what will handle this crowd right now.”
The players on both sides retreated to their clubhouses and locked the doors behind them. Reporters that interviewed fans during the melee were assaulted. Nestor Chylak had a bleeding head and arm from concrete chunks and pieces of a seat that that hit him. He called the game when he noticed the blade end of a hunting knife stabbing the turf a few feet from him. It had been thrown from the stands and would have injured or killed him if it had landed a few more feet to the left where he was standing.
The Cleveland Police Force Riot squad arrived about 20 minutes after the game and dispersed the crowd. Only nine people were arrested, an absolute joke, which is proof positive that there was virtually no police presence at this game. There were 2 more “10 cent Beer nights” planned by Cleveland for other games that year. American League President Lee MacPhail stepped in and stopped that, announcing that all giveaways and promotional nights would require league approval in the future.
Forty-seven years later, Ten Cent beer night is remembered as the stupidest promotional event ever introduced in baseball. Yes, even surpassing Veeck’s Disco Demolition Night with the White Sox a few years later.. The night is memorialized in this humorous musical ode to that magic night in this You Tube video. Enjoy.
Discussion (21)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Okay looking at players not in the Hall of Fame. And alot of the stars we saw are all subjected to using steroids. Try to name a ball player in the 80s or 90s that should be in the Hall who didn’t use steroids. Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Either, Barry Larkin, Erik Karros, Benji Molina, Joe Carter, Sean Casey, man that’s hard when you think of ballplayers that didn’t use steroids.
WAR! What is it good for?
Rating HOF candidates, apparently.
Rolen is a HOF quality. Not his fault that he didn’t play in major media markets, but he was very good for a long time with both the bat and the glove. (As someone wrote, he was the Arenado of his time. Schmidt won several gold gloves–and Schmidt said that Rolen was better than he was.)
A lot of players are borderline HOF material.
I absolutely think Wills was very deserving because of how he torched Cobb’s epic record and revived the running game, paving the way for guys like Brock and Henderson. He won an MVP. He was, for a few years, a spectacular, must-see talent.
I’ll take a few years of GREAT performance over a long career of very good performance. My all-time LA rotation features the greatness of Fernando and Orel alongside Koufax, Drysdale and Kershaw–but now Don Sutton. The HOF is biased toward the “counting stats.”
Hell, Koufax only won 165 regular season games, but four were no-hitters. What pitcher was greater? Which 300-game winner in their prime was better than prime Koufax?
Koufax’s WAR was only 48.8 or 54. 5, depending on the source.
Sutton’s was 85.5.
Durability and longevity are nice qualities. But not exactly thrilling.
No but he can refine it and his footwork to. He got good instructors in Ebel and Woodword coming back. We shall see after about five to ten throws from deep in the hole
Neither Cory or Trea are known for their D. Hope your the moron Mark cause if Lux can hit around 300 which I believe he’s capable and plays short good as those two. Plus his speed. He’s so athletic and still young and learning, sure would solidify the infield and help make for a great team. He played short all though the ranks seems if he didn’t play pretty well they would have tried somewhere else with his speed and hitting prowess
Is Orel Hershisser in the Hall of Fame. Is Greg Maddix in the Hall if Fame if Maddix is in then Oeel has git to be in the Hall of Fame by now he has how many more runs allowed innings and win a world series. What about Steve Yeager why isn’t he in when ever I watched a game when I was younger tahts who was catching Steve Yeager tahts who I said I was out at the diamond playing catcher even wore his number 7. Some guys get in because they were nice to the press. Should be how you effected or were apart of major league baseball. I bet if you look Jeff Kent s Home Runs for a second baseman is high tahts got to mean something he was a good leader and his teams played in the playoffs. Like eight now if you looked at Hall if famers who would it be Mike Trout, Sherzier, Alex Bergman, Altuve do you put those guys in because they cheated how do you really say no because you guys used electronic devices and tip pitches so your stats don’t count. So then it goes back to Kent Williams Clark Holiday guys taht were just tough to pitch to. And the fans know by there faces who they are. That’s how you know they were Hall of Famers. If you went to go see the Giants or Rockies and see those guys play.
https://dodgersnation.com/dodgers-analyst-believes-move-to-shortstop-will-elevate-gavin-lux-as-a-big-league-defender/2023/01/24/?utm_source=DNList&utm_campaign=4c5205cb51-DNList&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d4639aeeb7-4c5205cb51-35527811&mc_cid=4c5205cb51&mc_eid=ad4649cae2
It’s sad politics or personal dislikes for reasons that got nothing to do with baseball can determine who gets in or not. I can understand not voting for known juicers or even cheaters. Kent got more homers. More ribbies. Higher lifetime BA than Rolen though he played in a few more games. Rolen is in top three best defensive hot corner players there ever was and that counts for a lot but still
Bear
I hate to bring this up from yesterday but I went to bed. The closer is a whole different thing. They are the closer for a reason. They don’t have flaws (that the manager should know) unless they are towards the end or end of their careers (most likely what we saw with Kimbrel). So the Jansen thing you described, I agree with you, that was all on Jansen.
I was saying if Scott Rolen got in fans went to the ballpark to see the guys I mentioned not go see Scott Rolen play. Even when he was on the Reds did you go see Scott Rolen or Ken Griffey JR play so your telling me the Reds had two maybe three Hall of Fame players on there team the first baseman that pamus there now. And yet the Reds havent one since they had Eric Davis an Lou Pinella as there manager. And yet they had three Hall of Famers Griffey Rolen and what’s the kid at first base name uggh. That’s why I am saying Rolen no people didn’t go see him play. They went and saw Kent Garvey Cey Clark Williams Beltre Holiday. And yet nine of those guys you think should be in the Hall of Fame guys that didn’t take the juice. Next you all going to say Justin Turner should be in the Hall of Fame because he lead a team in the clubhouse
I like it. Guys get to the hall of fame due to batting practice prowess.
In that case, I saw Billy Ashley hit several out of the stadium; does that count?
Visquil?
Come on man.
Bradley,
Let me address each player:
1. Scott Rolen is a Hall of Famer. Maybe he was not the offensive force of other players, but his 70 WAR puts him there and he may be the best defensive 3B of all time… if he’s not he is in the conversation.
2. Steve Garvey – I loved Steve Garvey, but his career WAR is 38. For context, the average Hall of Famer has been 50-70 WAR, and the best of the best, Barry Bonds and Babe Ruth, were north of 160 WAR. I think you have to have 60 WAR to gen in general!
3. Matt Williams – 46 WAR and a career BA of .268 does not get you in.
4. Adrian Beltre – 93.5 WAR. Next year is his first year and he should get in on the first ballot. If not there should be an investigation.
5. Curt Schilling – 79.5 WAR and clutch in the playoffs, but he said some dumb stuff after his playing days were over and some of the little punk sports writers keep him out to punish him. He has been cancelled.
6. Will Clark – Borderline with 56.5 WAR. Probably won’t get in.
7. Omar Vizquil – Really does not have the stats to support it (45.6 WAR) and his chances at the Hall of Fame disappeared because of two scandals involving domestic violence and sexual harassment.
8. Jeff Kent – 55.4 WAR is borderline, but he did not like the writers and they di not like him. Still don’t!
9. Chase Utley – A great guy! 64.5 WAR, but his last 5 years he ht in the low .200’s. I don’t think he makes it.
10. Matt Cain – 29.1 WAR – Note even close!
11. Matt Holiday – 44.5 WAR – I doubt he makes it.
Interesting take Bradley.
Just one quick comparison: Scott Rolen, 70 WAR, 8 Gold Gold Gloves, Jeff Kent, 55 WAR no Gold Gloves.
No doubt there are other comparisons to be made.
Scott Rolen was a terrific player and he did it for 17 years. While I agree others should also be inducted, I have no problem with his selection.
So Scott Rolen is a Hall a Famer. Even when fans went to the ballpark did they ever say man can’t wait to see that Scott Rolen play. I can name ten players that should be in the Hall of Fame. Players that fans went to go see. Number one Steve Garvey Hall of Famer how many games did he play almost every day a fan favorite an pretty good stats. Number two Matt Williams Hall of Famer if Scott Rolen got in Matt Williams should be. I would go watch Matt take batting practice and oh gezzz he would crush the ball. Number three Adrian Beltre another third baseman who fans went and watched batting practice and play. Number four I would put Curt Schilling in the Hall of Fame great playoff pitcher and for two organizations won a world series. Number five Is Will Clark he has to be in the Hall of Fame another player fans went to the ballpark to see over Scott Rolen. Number six Omar Vizquil played for the Indians and Giants always a good player that fans watches played each and every day. Number seven Jeff Kent a good ball player fans went to see and a leader in the club house if Scott Rolen is in then Jeff Kent should be. Number eight Chase Utley of yes Hall if Famer the power the leadership totally was the gmface of Phillies baseball. Number nine how about this pitcher Matt Cain didn’t he throw a couple of no hitters that should get you in the world series and three rings he got with the Giants. And number ten a player that should be in hall of Fame since Scott Rolen is. How about Matt Holiday great ball player and fans likes win at every team he went to. So what’s your opinion on who should be if Scott Rolen got in Hall of Fame.
At one point, the Dodgers had to ban the sale of beer in the bleachers at Dodger Stadium because of all the fights.
Wonder whatever became of the marketing whiz who thought up 10 cent beer night?
Totally entertaining post! Majors give away stuff like jersey’s and bobbleheads now. In the minors though, they still have stuff like 1-dollar hot dog night. Instead of getting you drunk, they slowly clog your arteries!
“Beer ain’t drinkin'”
–Bruce Dern in Nebraska
Ah the good old days!!
There was a tavern in Redondo Beach that had 10 cent beers in the 70’s also. Only it was a good thing. I think their glasses were only about 8 oz. and I think it was brew 102 on tap.
Ew. People.
All I can say is, “There is no Dumbass Vaccine!”
Even Ray Charles could have seen that coming!
The only worse promotion would have been “Buy a ticket, get a free .45!”
Thanks, Evan – that was funny!