Foodgate

"Foodgate" was an incident at a New York Admirals-Fresno Marauders game in 2004 where after a fight between the teams instigated by the Admirals was seemingly unpunished by the umpires and the Admirals showed up the livid crowd, the fans hurled their food at the Admirals team.

Background
On June 1st, 2004, the New York Admirals went to Fresno to play the Marauders. Both teams were in second place and showing signs of promise. A 2:00 Fresno time game was scheduled and the Marauders were hosting a banner day. In this event, fans could make a Marauder-related banner and compete for which one was the best in front of a panel of former players. The promotion was a great success and the fans were in a good mood at game time.

Incident
In the Bottom of the 3rd inning, Admirals pitcher Michael Jones plunked two consecutive batters in the head with 97 mph fastballs. The Marauders took offense to this and rushed out to the mound. A fistfight broke out between the two teams and lasted for about four minutes. Umpires broke it out and ejected four Marauders. Meanwhile, the Admirals were only warned as the umpires deemed the hit by pitches as accidents.

The fans then booed incessantly. Feeling cocky over the incident, two Admiral players blew kisses two the crowd and gave them thumbs up. Enraged, the fans hurled food of various kinds at the players and into the Admiral dugout. Drinks were also poured into the dugouts and fans charged the dugout themselves. All of the fans arrested by the police were determined to be extremely intoxicated. It is also assumed that since the Marauders fan base is passionate, they were trying to hold the dignity of their team. The game would be suspended and continued at a neutral field in Miami to avoid the fans' lingering hatred of the Admirals.

Aftermath
The DMBL was understandably upset by the incident dubbed by the media "Foodgate". To send a message and punish the fans, no fans were allowed at the next Marauders home game. All fans with tickets were refunded. The Marauders were humiliated by what had happened. The players and coaches addressed the media and were very sorry at the actions of their fans. The Admirals, on the other hand, were appalled at what happened. The players wee suspended for instigating the crowd, but many fans took the side of the Admirals.

The next time the Admirals and Marauders in Fresno was in 2008. The Marauder fans not forgotten the pandemonium that had happened four years earlier and serenaded the enemy from the Big Apple with boos. All day, chants against the Admirals were persistent and after the game, players from both teams sympathized with the fans.

Trivia

 * "Foodgate" was inspired by the infamous "Bottlegate" incident and "Ten Cent Beer Night"
 * Credit is given to [|cliparthut.com], [|clipartlord.com] and [|clipartpanda.com] for the cliparts used to make the logo for the incident