A foul ball during a game between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium has been officially determined as the cause of death by a fan who died in August, just days after being struck.
According to William Weinbaum of ESPN, Linda Goldbloom, who was celebrating both her 59th wedding anniversary and 79th birthday during the August 25 game, was struck by a foul ball. She was taken to the hospital. Once there, she did not open her eyes and aside from a slight move of the finger, never moved.
“The coroner’s report states the cause as “acute intracranial hemorrhage due to history of blunt force trauma” and states that the injury occurred when she was struck in the head with a baseball during the Aug. 25 game at Dodger Stadium.”
Per Weinbaum, Jana Brody, the daughter of Mrs. Goldbloom, said “that she and her family would not comment on any agreement with the Dodgers or possible legal action, but she said she hopes to have a fund established in her mother’s memory to assist victims of such accidents and their families.
The report noted that this was the third time that a fan’s death was deemed to have been caused by a ball.
The first time came in 1943 in a game between the Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators at Washington’s Griffith Stadium. That was caused by an errant throw from an infielder.
The second incident occurred at Dodger Stadium in 1970 at a game between the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. That was also a foul ball.
Goldbloom’s death came during a season which saw MLB install more protective netting throughout the league. The foul ball that struck her sailed just over the netting before it struck her.