Josh Hamilton throws souvenir ball into stands at Rangers game tonight...fan falls 20 ft trying to [View All]

[Horse with no Name]

catch it and dies en route to the hospital.

How tragic.

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/30516115
>>>snip
A game between the Rangers and A's in Texas Thursday night yielded tragic news from off the field. During the second inning, Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton picked up a foul ball and tossed it up into the crowd. A fan leaned a bit over the rail to catch the ball, lost his balance and fell about 20 feet behind a video board. He was pronounced dead less than three hours later.

“We are deeply saddened to learn that the man who fell has passed away as a result of this tragic accident,” Rangers president and CEO Nolan Ryan said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Reportedly, the man who fell was a firefighter and was with his son, estimated six to eight years old. (all info above courtesy of Foul Territory, a Rangers blog)

The Rangers clubhouse was closed after the game and the A's players were reportedly devastated after having witnessed the fall (Susan Slusser via Twitter). In fact, A's relief pitcher Brad Ziegler said he saw the man was conscious and asking stadium officials to look after his son (Slusser Twitter).