Two Fans Attack Coach During White Sox Game

Add another ugly chapter to Chicago baseball history.

Two spectators, father and son, charged onto the field to attack Kansas City first base coach Tom Gamboa in the top of the ninth inning Thursday night at Comiskey Park. They hit the 54-year-old coach from behind and then landed a number of blows.

Royal players, with shortstop Neifi Perez leading the charge, mobbed the two until Comiskey Park security got control of the situation.

“No punishment could be stiff enough,” White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said. “I wish they had left the players out there to beat on them for an hour.”

The names of the attackers were not released, but according to White Sox spokesman Scott Reifert, the father is to be charged with two counts of felony assault, one on Gamboa and the other on an off-duty police officer working with White Sox security. The son will be charged as a juvenile.

According to Royal Manager Tony Pena and many players, security officials found a small pocket knife on the field after the brawl. Some eyewitnesses thought one of the attackers may have been trying to use it but there was no formal mention of the weapon.

Gamboa, who said he felt “like a football team hit me from behind,” suffered a small cut above one eye and bruises. He left the field for treatment as the Royals finished off a 2-1 victory over the White Sox.

White Sox General Manager Ken Williams was relieved Gamboa’s injuries were not worse. He visited with Gamboa and Pena immediately after the game.

“It’s devastating, very devastating,” Williams said. “When you look in the man’s eyes and try to apologize on behalf of the club and the city, words don’t adequately express the sorrow.”

Violence has been a part of Chicago’s baseball history, with the most vivid examples being the brawl in the stands between the Dodgers and Wrigley Field fans in 2000 and the fan who attacked Cub pitcher Randy Myers during a game in 1995.

“It’s not a reflection on the security or the White Sox,” Kansas City first baseman Mike Sweeney said. “It’s just the result of two complete losers.”