The history of baseball in America stretches back 114 years, but Wednesday’s game in Baltimore is unique: the first time fans have been barred from attending a major league game.

Looting and rioting in Baltimore forced the postponement of games Monday and Tuesday between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox, and a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew is in force in the city, less than 60 kilometers from the U.S. capital.

Major League Baseball decided to play the Wednesday game, but to exclude all fans – whether or not they held tickets for the game – in the interests of public safety. The start time also was switched from evening to 2:05 p.m. EDT (1805 GMT).

Orioles team manager Buck Showalter said: “It’s all about what’s best for the city and the safety of our people. The last thing you want to do is put the fans in harm’s way. You have to err on the side of safety.”

So no vendors were selling peanuts or beer Wednesday, and the souvenir stands in the Orioles’ ballpark were closed. All the entrance gates were locked except one, for news media.

Media out in force

And reporters and photographers were out in force.

Associated Press reported the press box in the empty stadium was nearly filled to capacity more than three hours before the first pitch, in a “surreal” setting. None of the normal trappings of a big-league baseball game – from the players introductions over loudspeakers to the traditional “seventh-inning stretch,” when fans stand to sing and applaud the home team – would take place.

Closed-door matches have been staged on a number of occasions in world football (soccer) games, especially in Europe, where such measures are taken to prevent fan-inspired violence, but it is extremely rare for civil unrest to disrupt sporting events in the United States.

During riots in Los Angeles in 1992 that followed an unpopular verdict in a court case alleging police brutality, the Dodgers postponed a planned series against the Montreal Expos. And in 1967, the Orioles and the Detroit Tigers postponed a game because of riots in Detroit.

Baseball historians, including Major League Baseball’s official archivist, said  this will be the first U.S. baseball game with zero attendance. The previous low was in 1882, when a mere six spectators were on hand in the state of Massachusetts to watch a contest between the Worcester Ruby Legs and the Troy Trojans – two teams that have not existed since the 19th century.

“It’s definitely going to be uncharted territory,” manager Showalter said, according to AP.
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