MILWAUKEE -- Pirates first baseman Randall Simon was arrested last night (July 9, 2003) after the Pirates' game against Milwaukee and faces a possible battery charge this morning.
During the famed "Sausage Race" after the sixth inning, Simon swung a bat at one of the costumed participants, hitting a 19-year-old girl. (See Clip Below) She fell near the Pirates' dugout and another participant, a 21-year-old girl, tripped over her. Both girls were sent to the stadium First Aid station and treated for scrapped knees.
Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies reviewed tape of the incident and interrogated Simon at the stadium before transporting him in handcuffs to the Milwaukee County Jail, where he was expected to be booked and released early this morning. Simon is to appear before a district attorney this morning.
Simon pinch-hit for starter Kris Benson in the seventh inning.
"I'm aware of the situation, but at this time I can't comment until I get further information," said Dave Littlefield, the Pirates' general manager.
Larry Silverman, legal counsel for the Pirates, was informed of the incident by Rick Schlesinger, the Brewers' executive vice-president for business operations.
"This is in no way a reflection on the Pirates," Schlesinger said. "It's an insane act of a person whose conduct is unjustifiable. Larry [Silverman] is as shocked and distressed as I am. It sickened me to see it.
"I can't put into words the anger I feel and the sense of outrage I have. We've had the sausage race every day for years and never had something like this happen."
