The Arizona Diamondbacks have finally had enough with one of their most loyal fans, Dave McCaskill, after another incident of fan interference at Chase Field. McCaskill, a season-ticket holder with an Advantage Membership that grants access to exclusive events, early postseason tickets, and ballpark discounts, has been suspended for the remainder of the year and his membership account has been terminated.
The incident occurred during a game where McCaskill reached for a ball that was off the bat of San Francisco Giants third baseman Christian Koss, just as the ball was about to be caught by left fielder Tim Tawa. The ball initially appeared to be caught, but after review, it was determined that Koss had been awarded a double, leading to McCaskill’s ejection from the ballpark. This marks the latest in a series of incidents where McCaskill has reportedly reached for balls that were not in play, resulting in multiple ejections and reviews.
Recent videos of McCaskill’s actions have resurfaced on social media, highlighting his frequent interference in borderline home run plays. While McCaskill claims he is a fan of the D-Backs and would never want to do anything to harm the team’s performance, he admitted to being ejected on three occasions, later correcting himself to two. He explained that he believed the ball would have bounced over the wall, but the official rulings have consistently found that the ball did not cross the imaginary line above the wall, making his actions a violation of fan conduct rules.
Fans are not allowed to reach over the wall or the imaginary line above it to catch a ball, but it is permissible once the ball has crossed that line. Jomboy Media has pointed out a total of four instances of McCaskill’s interference, with other accounts noting five such incidents. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo emphasized the importance of allowing plays to be made by the players, stating that the team would not tolerate interference.
McCaskill, according to the New York Post, has been following the controversial ballhawk Zack Hample, known for catching over 10,000 baseballs. While Hample’s actions have sparked debate over the role of fans in baseball, the Diamondbacks have taken a firm stance on maintaining the integrity of the game and upholding the Fan Code of Conduct. McCaskill’s suspension is part of a broader effort by MLB teams to address repeated violations of fan conduct, ensuring that the game is played fairly and without unnecessary interference.