Fans Injured At Fenway Park Encouraged By Safety Recommendations
BOSTON (CBS) - Major League Baseball is encouraging all of its teams to add more protective nettings and the Red Sox are working on it. Several fans were hurt during games at Fenway Park this summer.
There's no amnesia for Stephanie Wapenski. She remembers that night at Fenway back in July all too well when she was struck right between the eyes by a batted ball. She needed about 40 stitches and suffered a concussion. She says any added protection for fans is welcome news.
"There's been enough incidents where people have gotten hurt you know much worse than me," Stephanie said.
"Just get it up there quickly, you know it's a problem," Stephanie said. "You know in a certain area the reaction time's just not there so I'd be very happy with that decision."
MLB is now taking action, encouraging clubs to implement or maintain netting that shields all field level seats located between near ends of both dugouts.
When they buy tickets, customers will also be informed which seats are located behind netting.
The Red Sox immediately responded saying changes will be focused around home plate. A team statement says: "The Red Sox take matters of fan safety very seriously and intend to follow the recommendations put forth by Major League Baseball by expanding the backstop netting behind home plate for the 2016 season. The club is in the process of evaluating different design options to identify the best solution for Fenway Park, and is proactively reaching out to the ticket holders most affected by the planned changes."
Tonya Carpenter was also severely hurt last summer when she was hit by a broken bat flying into the stands at Fenway.
Her attorney says: "Tonya is encouraged to hear that MLB and the Red Sox are finally taking steps to provide their fans with increased protection… At least something good will have come out of her injuries and suffering."
Bob Hilliard represents season ticket holders who filed a lawsuit against Major League Baseball. He says the safety recommendations are "too little, too late" and won't protect enough fans.
Listen Interview With Bob Hilliard
"It provides no protection for many, many, many fans who are going to be still in danger," Hilliard said in an interview with WBZ NewsRadio 1030. "Someone will be killed by a foul ball unless they do more."
He says there should be netting from foul pole to foul pole just like stadiums in Japan.
Hilliard says the recommendations are insulting to fans and should be ironclad. "How would it look if MLB turned their steroid policy into a recommendation? Or their domestic violence policy into a recommendation?"
