On Friday, during Game 3 of the World Series, Yuli Gurriel mocked Yu Darvish by making a racist gesture by slanting his eyes in the dugout. He was suspended for five games next season instead of having to serve any time during this series, and felt a fair amount of boos rain down from Houston fans during Games 4 and 5.
Dodgers fans booed Yuli Gurriel in first game at Dodgers Stadium since racist gesture in Game 3
Rich Hill even stepped off the mound to let the crowd keep going.
Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
But nothing compared to what was sent his way in Game 6 at Dodger stadium. Because the Dodger faithful were not about to give Gurriel a warm welcome after that incident.
These boos legitimately may be louder than any I’ve personally heard at a baseball game. Those don’t compare to rivalry boos or “you left our team in free agency badly” boos. Those are vicious, and loud, and carry a heft that Gurriel surely felt at the plate.
Some reports say that LA starter Rich Hill stepped off the mound to allow the crowd more time to cheer, but it’s difficult to confirm that in the video available so far.
They booed him again during his second at-bat, with FOX cameras catching the crowd doing it emphatically and looking like they were enjoying it.
It’s tough to blame Dodgers fans for it, after what Gurriel did and the fact that he didn’t even get promptly punished for it.
Update: Rich Hill confirmed after that game that not only did he step off the mound to let the crowd continue booing, but did it as a “silent gesture” to condemn Gurriel’s actions.
So that answers that.
See More:
