Blue Jays stop selling canned beer after Kim Hyun-soo incident

By Baek Byung-yeul

After a baseball fan threw a beer can at the Baltimore Orioles Korean outfielder Kim Hyun-soo last week, the Toronto Blue Jays have decided to stop selling canned beer at their home park Rogers Centre for the rest of the postseason games starting Oct. 9.

The Blue Jays said in a statement on Sunday, “Enhanced security and alcohol management measures will be in place to provide our fans, staff and players with a safe and enjoyable atmosphere.”

“As such, all beer will be poured into cups throughout the stadium for the remainder of the postseason,” the statement said.

The Canadian baseball team added that no decision has been made about canned beer sales at the Rogers Centre next season.

The announcement came days after a Blue Jays fan was charged with mischief for allegedly throwing a beer can at Kim during a wild-card game between the Blue Jays and the Orioles on Oct. 4. The Toronto police identified the man as Ken Pagan, a 41-year-old copy editor at Postmedia.

With the policy change, fans at Rogers Centre on Sunday for Game 3 of American League Division Series between the Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers were unable to purchase any canned beer.

The Blue Jays had been in trouble with their fans throwing trash onto the field. During last year’s Division Series against the Rangers, another Blue Jays fan threw a beer can following a controversial call by an umpire.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays advanced to the next round of the playoffs after defeating the Rangers 7-6 to sweep their Division Series.