Woman hit by foul ball at Wrigley Field raises stadium concerns

CHICAGO (WLS) -- New concerns about baseball stadium dangers are coming to the forefront after a foul ball hit a fan at Wrigley Field Sunday, sending her to the hospital.

The fan left the ballpark conscious and in good spirits. It was a close call, one of many this baseball season.

The ball can sometimes leave the bat in excess of 100 miles an hour. Even if she was focused on the pitch, the fan struck Sunday had little time to react. It hit her head so hard, the ball bounced back onto the field.

Screaming fouls and flying bats have forever been part of baseball, but this season has seen in abundance, including a Boston fan who needed brain surgery after being hit by a broken bat.

"Personally, I think the screen behind home plate should be extended down the right and left field lines," said Cubs fan Brandon Koretz. "I think it's a small price to pay to save a life."

The length of the screen behind the plate differs from ballpark to ballpark and traditionally at any ballpark, fans pay top dollar to sit as close to the field as possible with a view that's unobstructed.

Bruce Lowy joked that he has second row seats in harm's way and that's the way he wants it.

"If I bought a ticket and there was netting and they didn't tell me, I'd be upset," he said. "It's obstructing my view, but if I know I have an unobstructed view, then I know it's my choice to do that."

"It's a tricky question," said Chicago Tribune sportswriter Paul Sullivan. "I think baseball wants to do the right thing."

Sullivan has extensively interviewed players and fans about levels of spectator protection, and he figures there may be some adjustments coming.

"I think there will be an order from MLB that there should be more netting, at least from dugout to dugout," Sullivan said.

Many players say they cringe every time a foul ball rockets into the stands and are increasingly calling for at least low-level netting.

"I hope it doesn't take somebody getting hit in the head and dying for them to do that," said White Sox player Gordon Beckham. "But it seems like a lot of times society wants to wait for something that bad to happen and then they'll make the change."

While some players suggest the screen behind home plate should be extended dugout to dugout, Major League Baseball says it is reevaluating. After a fan filed suit earlier this year, MLB and all of its clubs are declining talk about any specifics.