The Green Bay Blue Ribbons could count on a good sized crowd at Joannes Stadium when the Sheboygan A's showed up, but they insured it with 10 cent beer nights on Wednesdays. A's General Manager Denny Moyer recalls, “They packed the house on Wednesday night, they always scheduled us for Wednesday night, they knew Sheboygan would show up.”
And Then There Was Cleveland…
10 cent beer nights have somewhat of a track record in baseball. The Brewers held their first one on June 18th, 1971 to boost attendance. 27,472 fans showed up and things went awry.
“Predictably fights broke out in all sectors of the park, usually matching police against an overenthusiastic and slightly polluted rooter. It was usually a one-sided contest and many of those carried away were released without charge. Surprisingly, the only persons entering the playing field were two young men, who moved so quickly and with such reckless abandon that they were practically ignored by the ushers. Once touching the hallowed ground, they quickly retreated and ordered another.” ~ Milwaukee Journal coverage as quoted by the
American Mustache Institute
The fallout…
So many people were arrested that an impromptu court was set up to handle the cases—friends described inventive defenses used to try and elude the charges. One man who was nabbed after going into the women’s room to urinate told the judge, “I didn’t see the W-O.” He didn’t get off, but even the judge laughed at that one. ~
American Mustache Institute
But then there was Cleveland in 1974. Same game promotion but it didn't just go awry, it went horribly wrong. A full blown riot broke out and the game had to be forfeited.
