Foul Ball Fiasco: Craig's Hilarious Shea Stadium Story

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From The Craig Carton Show

Craig Carton's Memorable Foul Ball Adventure at Shea Stadium

The final opening day at Shea Stadium was a memorable event as the New York Mets prepared to move to Citi Field. To mark this occasion, folding chairs were added on the field between the Mets dugout and home plate, accommodating about 50 dignitaries. Among those invited was me, Craig Carton, alongside notables such as my radio partner Boomer Esiason, and David Patterson, the then-governor of New York, who is legally blind.

The unfolding events turned a simple baseball game into a momentous occasion for me. When a foul ball was hit towards our section, I instinctively decided to go for the catch, all the while being mindful of Governor Patterson due to his inability to see the ball. My quick thinking had me leaning on his shoulder for support as I maneuvered to catch the ball, explaining to him the situation as it happened. Boomer, seated on my other side, remained uninterested in the action.

The attempt turned dramatic as I, balancing with one hand on Patterson's shoulder and the other on my folding chair, tried to make an overhead catch. Unfortunately, the chair collapsed under the movement, sending me falling forward into a woman's lap—right beside her husband. This mishap led to an awkward yet amusing interaction. Apologizing for the unintended intrusion, the situation resolved amicably with an invitation from the woman to a cocktail party at her newly renovated apartment in New York City. Interestingly, she was related to Steve Tisch, highlighting how intertwined unexpected events can become.

Though I did not catch the foul ball and no notable harm was done, this incident remains one of the more humorous and personally engaging experiences from my time at Shea Stadium's last opening day.