New York Yankees Fan Shot and Killed by Brooklyn Dodgers Fan over 1956 WS
March 8, 2012 · Harold Friend · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
William S. Christman was a New York City detective. On Oct. 7, 1956, Det. Christman decided to have a drink at Carmichael’s Bar and Grill near his Richmond Hill, Queens home after he finished his tour of duty.
The bartender and Det. Christman were discussing the 1956 World Series between the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers. Another patron, 25-year-old Robert Thompson, jumped into the conversation.
Thompson, who was a Dodgers fan, and the detective, who rooted for the Yankees, got into a heated discussion with respect to the merits of their teams.
The Dodgers had beaten the Yankees in 1955 to win their first World Series. They were now tied at two games each in the 1956 Series.
Apparently, Thompson wasn’t very certain that he had convinced Det. Christman the Dodgers were going to beat the Yankees again. He got up, left the bar and went to his nearby house.
Thompson soon returned with a .30 caliber lever-action rifle. Much to his chagrin, the bar had just closed. As Thompson surveyed the street, he saw Det. Christman getting into his car.
Thompson walked up to the detective’s car and fired. The shot hit Det. Christman in his right side. Thompson returned to his house.
A passing motorist discovered the detective who was dead when police arrived. The bartender spoke to the police, telling them where Thompson lived. The police arrested him as he was sitting on his bed, removing his shoes and socks.
In 1956, throughout baseball history, and seemingly, especially in the 21st century, there are individuals that cannot comprehend that a baseball game is fantasy .It is a creation for entertainment.
Peyton Manning recently stated that he will always be a Colt. That is ridiculous. The Baltimore Colts abandoned that city for financial reasons. Manning and hundreds, if not thousands of athletes, identify with fantasy.
The games and the competition are real, but despite t-shirts that declare the opposite, baseball and football are not life.
Intense fans must realize that while they root for a team and its players, the team and its players don’t root for the fan.
In 1956, it was Det. Christman. In 2011, it was Bryan Stow.
There is nothing wrong in identifying with a baseball team, but those that do must recognize when they say, “We won today,” they won nothing. The team won.
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