Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-07
SEGH AT LARGE
Beyond The Call
Of Portisunship
BY NORRIS sIEGEL

IF THIS is SUPPOSED to be enlightened era we're
living in somebody forgot to pass the word around Bat-
more Sports spectators there continue to behave IN
manner primitive enough to horrify Mau Maui
In the nine short years since the Orioles have been
back in the major leagues their fans have come to be
regarded as the rudest anywhere. Wednesday night
watching the Yankees whack the Orioles they acted as
their title at stake They retained 1t with character
istic uncouthneSs.
They reacted so crudely when it was announced
Mickey Mantle had suffered bone fracture and would be
out six weeks that 1t shamed number Of onookers
Into admitting they embarrassed by the unbelievable
spectacle Of fans actually cheering the grim news.
FROM EYEwITNEsSES and press accounts, their
conduct set new low for craftsmanship "A great cheer
heralded the announcement (of Nantes injury, the
Baltimore Sun reported II can't believe what heard
Clete Boyer the Yankee third baseman exclaimed
To cheer the home forces and eer the visitors is one
thing but to applaud serious injury demonstrates
boorish act Of dtasefuness above and beyond the eau
Of understandable partiSanShip.
As an additional sample of refinement one fan hurled
whisky bottle at Umpire Joe Paparela probably half
pint Of cheap stuff at that When his identity is revealed
he likely become the leading candidate for salti
mores Man Of the Year.
MANTLE WAS INJURED doing what comes naturally
for him. Busting his back-n this case his leg-yng 10
win ball game for the Yankees In 10 other major league
franchises this is considered fair play the best tradition
Of Craftsmanship In Baltimore it's apparently regarded as
an act Of treachery
Tommy Whelan, the old Catholic University nasn
can testify to the fury of enraged Baltimore FAM
whelan was lucky to escape with nothing worse than
terrifying memory after episode In Baltimore some
years ago when whelan officiating In the A-Amerca
Conference
Tommy called play against the old Colts who were
joustng the Buffalo Bills for the supremacy OF nothing
Several minutes later when the game was over hundreds
Of fans swarmed onto the field
It took cadre Of Baltimore cops, who remained sur
prsngy loyal to their duties to shepherd Whelan away
from the mob Since then Whean takes the Harbor
Tunnel through the city when he finds 1t necessary to
travel in that direction.
EVEN IN ADMIRATION the Baltimore fan poses a
major threat to personal safety This best shown
several years ago when the Colts returned home from
New York after their dramatic suddendeah victory over
the Giants in the NFT. championship game.
Thousands greeted the team buses at the airport IT
was rotous scene and the big football players were
afraid" recalls Cameron Snyder, Baltmorean who was
there and remembers the frightening event.
81 thought they going to either destroy the buses
or turn them over Snyder said IF that's their idea Of
celebrating victory don't want to be there the next
time"
Reminded that this was occasion Of Joy, Snyder
agreed but said with our fans there's very little differ
ence between anger and adulation."
In ancient Rome this same breed OF fan rooted foa
the lions.