If you say the words “10-Cent Beer Night” to anyone that is a Cleveland Indians, you’ll immediately get the story of the infamous night on June 4, 1974 at Old Municipal Stadium.
In fact, someone just asked me what it was and I told them “They served 10 cent beers and the fans fought the players.”
Boom. History lesson.
I can give you the long, drawn out version but when you offer fans 12 oz beers for 10 cents for the entire game, you can pretty much envision the scenario that played out. Here’s a little excerpt from the story’s wiki page.
After the Indians had managed to tie the game, a 19-year-old fan named Terry Yerkic ran onto the field and attempted to steal Texas outfielder Jeff Burroughs’ cap. Confronting the fan, Burroughs tripped. Thinking that Burroughs had been attacked, Texas manager Billy Martin charged onto the field with his players right behind, some wielding bats. A large number of intoxicated fans – some armed with knives, chains, and portions of stadium seats that they had torn apart – surged onto the field, and others hurled bottles from the stands. Hundreds of fans surrounded the outnumbered Rangers.”
Fast forward 41 years and today, on the anniversary, the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League (no affiliation to MLB) will be hosting their own 10 Cent Beer Night.
Of course, we have learned us a thing or two since Mike Hargrove took a bat out to right field to fend off the bleacher creatures. The Crushers announced that fans would be allowed to purchase a maximum of 10 drink tickets at 10 cents a piece and that the promotion would end after the first pitch. Plus the beers will only be five ounces.
“Get here early because as soon as the first pitch hits the catcher’s glove the promotion is over,” Dave Dix, director of food and beverage, said via a team spokeswoman. “Stick around for Thirsty Thursday. We will have enough security on hand to prevent a savage brawl.”
Was that a dig at the 1974 security team in place for the Cleveland Indians?!
So, ya know, if you’re not watching that basketball team from Cleveland in the NBA Finals tonight and you have an itch for semi-pro(?) baseball, this may be right in your proverbial wheelhouse.
