We Need to Talk About the Pete Crow-Armstrong Situation

My fellow baseball fans. We need to have a difficult and honest conversation about your behavior at games. I feel like some of you have refused to learn your lesson. I know that we love our teams and favorite players, but you need to be called out on your toxic demeanor towards players. Last weekend was Rivalry Weekend in Major League Baseball. One of the games was the matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox. There was an incident during last weekend's contest where Pete Crow-Armstrong went off on a female White Sox fan for heckling him in a profane manner. He later apologized for the remark and mentioned that young fans looked up to him, also adding that he didn't want his recent situation to send the wrong message to those who are fans of his or kids who look up to him. I'm proud of PCA for taking accountability for his actions and recognizing his eagerness to learn from them.

To the unruly baseball fans: Many of you have been too comfortable with disrespect. There's nothing wrong with supporting your team or showing love to your favorite player or players. Also, interacting or joking around with players isn't wrong, either. Just as long as you don't cross the line. However, most of you need to learn the difference between being a fan and a bully. Some of you take things too far and your behavior needs to be self-examined. Free speech doesn't mean you're free from the consequences. You're a guest in someone else's ballpark and when you purchased your ticket, you agreed to abide by their rules. Attending a baseball game is a privilege, not a right. When I saw the comments on Facebook regarding PCA and the White Sox fan, many people were laughing at the situation instead of condemning the woman. They brushed it off and made jokes about it. PCA or any other player would've brushed off the White Sox fan's remark and took it in stride, but I felt like he was being provoked to the point where he had to defend himself. Also, for the fans think that players who are too sensitive and can't take a joke, you're missing the entire point of how much they can tolerate from fans. Players have a right to be upset, because at the end of the day, they're human beings with feelings. This wasn't the first time a player confronted a fan. Last season, a fan disrespected Ketel Marte by bringing up his deceased mother. The Chicago White Sox showed him some support, which was a classy move by them. Also, last season, a Guardians fan made insensitive remarks about Boston Red Sox player Jarren Duran's mental health battle, which he has been open about. In 2024, he was involved in yet another incident involving a fan. This time, it was with an Astros fan. The All-Star used an anti-gay slur towards the fan. While he later apologized and was suspended two games for the incident, I didn't accept his tone-deaf mea culpa, because he wore a profane shirt the following day and thought it didn't come off as genuine. In other words, he took back that apology. I held him accountable for using that offensive remark, but I commended him in one of my previous stories for being open and homes about his battles with depression, including his 2022 suicide attempts.

I want fans to enjoy themselves and have a good time at games. Also, there needs to be a level of decorum when it comes to interacting with players and attending baseball games. However, conducting yourself in a respectful manner needs to be normalized more. There are many players and a couple of teams I have a huge dislike of, but I would never go out of my way to belittle or provoke them in a disrespectful manner. Stop glorifying and cosigning this toxic mindset at baseball games. No player has to deal with disrespectful and unruly fans. You can have a good time without rudely getting a reaction from players. If you're unable to behave yourself at baseball game, please stay home and watch your favorite team from the comfort of your own home or at a bar. I hope that the incidents I've mentioned in this story would encourage you to become better people. For the most part, baseball fans are very kind. It's the negative, toxic fans who ruin everyone else's experiences. On that note, do better.