The MLB Crosstown Classic got seriously ugly Monday night when a wild brawl broke out in the Wrigley Field stands during the Chicago Cubs’ 7-5 victory over the White Sox.
And this wasn’t just a couple of angry fans exchanging words.
Video circulating on social media showed roughly a dozen men caught up in the confrontation, with punches flying and drinks being thrown as nearby spectators desperately tried to get away from the melee. Screams could be heard as the fight unfolded, while other fans remained nearby recording the chaos on their phones.
One man appeared to absorb a particularly brutal barrage of punches while trying to defend himself. Another was later seen walking away with blood running down the side of his face.
Police Move In as MLB Fan Fight Spirals
Security personnel and police eventually entered the stands and worked to separate the people involved.
According to reports, police arrested three people after the incident. A 41-year-old man was reportedly charged with misdemeanor battery as well as felony possession of cocaine. Two other men, ages 33 and 29, were charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass.
Footage of the moments leading up to the fight showed how quickly things escalated.
An elderly security staffer could be seen trying to stand between two groups arguing. The confrontation remained heated before one man appeared to kick at someone in the opposing group.
That was enough to set everything off.
Within moments, the dispute turned into a sprawling fight, with several men trading punches in the rows of seats.
Cubs Jerseys on Both Sides of the Brawl
Interestingly, this wasn’t simply Cubs fans fighting White Sox fans despite the rivalry taking place on the field. The video appeared to show people in Cubs gear throwing punches at one another as well, making the loyalties involved much less clear than the jerseys might suggest.
The ugly scene came amid another round of attention on fan behavior at Wrigley Field.
Just one day earlier, footage from Sunday’s Cubs game against the St. Louis Cardinals drew criticism online after a spectator appeared to shove a woman during a scramble for a home run ball.
Pete Crow-Armstrong had launched a two-run homer into Wrigley’s left-field bleachers with Chicago trailing St. Louis 3-0 in the third inning. As the ball dropped into the crowd, several spectators immediately scrambled for the souvenir.
Another Wrigley Incident Draws Attention
Video from the play appeared to show one fan pushing a woman aside while trying to reach the ball. Despite the scramble, another spectator ultimately got it.
So within a matter of days, two very different moments in the Wrigley Field stands ended up circulating widely online: first a frantic battle for a baseball, and then an actual battle during the Crosstown Classic.
Monday’s confrontation, however, carried consequences far beyond losing a souvenir. By the time the punches stopped, police were involved, three arrests had reportedly been made, and one of Chicago baseball’s signature rivalry games had produced an entirely different kind of highlight reel.
