Two injured by explosion at Jacobs Field

[Murphy3]

Two injured by explosion at Jacobs Field
By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer
June 12, 2002

CLEVELAND (AP) -- As the explosion echoed through Jacobs Field, players stopped in their tracks, a few ducked for cover and Philadelphia manager Larry Bowa cringed.


``I didn't know what is was,'' Bowa said. ``These days you think the worst.''

Three men remained in jail Wednesday, pending possible charges, while investigators tried to determine what sort of explosive was set off at Jacobs Field on Tuesday night.

Police believe it was a large firecracker thrown from the upper deck during the Cleveland Indians' game against the Phillies on Tuesday night, burning two people -- one an Indians employee.

Three men in their early 20s from Elyria, about 40 miles west of Cleveland, where held for questioning, Sgt. Jacqueline Lewis said.

Fire Lt. Clayton Cunningham said investigators want to be sure what was set off before deciding what to do about charges.

One of the injured, identified as Judy Knight, was treated for superficial burns at MetroHealth Medical Center and then released.

The other injury was suffered by Brian Burke, an usher who works for the team, said Indians vice president Dennis Lehman.

The blast in a lower-level smoking area was heard throughout the ballpark in the top of the ninth inning of the Indians' 5-1 victory over Philadelphia.

``I looked around for smoke,'' Indians designated hitter Ellis Burks said. ``And all the fans got really quiet.''

Burks said he doesn't feel unsafe on the field, but worries about how fans could be susceptible in today's uncertain times.

``With the stuff that's going on, you come out to a ballgame and you are open prey for a terrorist or anybody,'' Burks said. ``All it takes is for somebody to do something stupid.''

A few of the players on the field ducked their heads, and both dugouts emptied when the explosion went off at 9:23 p.m.

``It was loud,'' Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. ``It sounded like two trucks running together.''

Team spokesman Bob DiBiasio said security personnel could not have stopped the fireworks from being brought into the stadium since none of the men carried a bag.

``They didn't bring it in anything we checked. We do not ask for fans to unload their pockets when they enter the ballpark,'' DiBiasio said.

[Drbio]

They should strap firecrackers to those guys willy and blow it it off. Freaking idiots.