Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 21, 1993 TAG: 9307210191
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: I.J. ROSENBERG COX NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: Medium
Flames, growing by the second, shot out of one of the booths above the field at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, but the Atlanta Braves' batting practice went on.
Third base coach Jimy Williams was on the mound and David Justice at the plate when all of a sudden an explosion shook the stadium.
"Otis Nixon couldn't have caught me," said Justice. "I was gone."
Added bullpen coach Ned Yost, who at the time was talking to manager Bobby Cox, "All I saw was a butt flying and a bunch of hands waving."
Said Williams, "When it happened [the explosion], I said, `I'm crazy if I stay out here any longer.' "
The blast, likely from a backdraft, propelled flames into the vacated booth of general manager John Schuerholz and sent every player from the Braves and St. Louis Cardinals scurrying into the outfield.
One firefighter was taken to a hospital suffering from heat exhaustion and as many as 10 others were treated on the scene for heat related problems. No other injuries were reported.
Atlanta fire chief David Chamberlin said the fire apparently started with a "sterno heating unit."
The fire burned 25 minutes before firefighters could get close enough to pour water on it. Twenty minutes later, it appeared out.
"I kept looking at the fire and at Justice in the batting cage," said Cardinals manager Joe Torre. "It was a strange scene, but the fire was small, and then all of a sudden you heard this noise. Glass was flying. The only thing I've seen like this before was when I was at the World Series earthquake in San Francisco. I was in the third row from the top."
Said catcher Greg Olson, "I was in the outfield, so thank God I didn't have to run very far. It was wild watching everyone take off."
For the next hour, players, coaching staffs, support personnel and media representatives stood in the outfield as the fire engines took almost 30 minutes to get onto the field. The ground crew went rushing to the tarp, which they had to roll out on the field so the engines could pass on the warning track.
Braves pitcher Greg Maddux said, "Let's play, let's play."
TBS announcer Don Sutton went to dinner at the Pleasant Pheasant, saying, "They had my number. I had the steak au poivre, and it was a little well done."
Cox was in the tunnel under the stadium watching new acquisition Fred McGriff take batting practice when the fire broke out.
"I was in there with John [Schuerholz]," Cox said, "and [assistant general manager] Dean Taylor came in and said that a small fire had broken out. I went outside and that is when the explosion came. Sure it scared me."
Said Schuerholz, referring to few spectators being in the stadium at the time of the fire: "It was an unfortunate circumstance at probably the most fortunate time."
Donald Levin said he and his son were close to the field taking pictures of the players when the fire started. His wife and 8-month-old baby were in the upper deck.
"It started out small, and someone was up there trying to put it out with a fire extinguisher," he said. "The next thing I knew, it was spreading pretty fast and there were pieces falling out into the seats below. My wife and baby were up in their seats, and I was hollering up there for them to get out of there."
Joe Shepherd of Little Rock, Ark., said he helped an elderly woman down the stadium ramp out of the ballpark.
"Smoke was gushing out everywhere," he said. "I could feel the heat from 20 rows away."
The Associated Press provided some information for this story.
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB