An accusation of sign stealing eventually led to a bizarre sequence of events that included an umpire being ejected from a Frontier League game in New York.
It all occurred during Sunday’s game between the New York Boulders and Tri-City ValleyCats when the visiting ValleyCats accused the Boulders of stealing signs via the centerfield camera in the first inning.
First base umpire Warren Nicholson told the Boulders that they had to remove the league-approved tablet in the dugout, which led to New York second baseman Tucker Nathans questioning that.
Nicholson eventually ejected Nathans and it lead to a fiery exchange where the umpire appeared to touch Nathans in the midsection,
The two had to be separated and restrained and broadcast footage showed Nicholson exiting the game through center field.
“Your manager in Tri-City has been accusing us of stealing signs for three days, which is offensive and embarrassing at the same time,” Boulders team president Shawn Reilly told the Albany Times Union. “The umpire went over based on Pete and he threw (Nathans) out and things got out of control.
“It’s unfortunate. It was not a good moment for the league. It was an embarrassing moment and it should never have happened.”
Nicholson was replaced by umpire Lou DeLuise who lives nearby Clover Stadium, the Times Union reported.
The game was delayed an hour, not for the altercation, but because the Boulders made the decision to remove the centerfield camera, adding to the bizarre nature of the day.
Reilly said that he made the call to have the camera removed.
Reilly also seemed to take a not-so-subtle shot at ValleyCats manager Pete Incaviglia, who played 12 seasons in the majors.
“It really didn’t have to happen, and it all boils from these ridiculous allegations of pitch-cheating that Pete does every year at this time of year,” Reilly said. “And I think he’s an embarrassment to the Frontier League and I think Tri-City is a first-class organization. But I don’t have much patience for that behavior. He gets the umpires riled up that we’re cheating.
“We’re not. I find it incredibly offensive to accuse my organization of cheating. He can’t win on the field so he sorts to the pitch-stealing (accusation). Well, then change your signs. He’s better than that.”
The Boulders team president also noted that the game broadcast was on a 30-second delay and that it would have been impossible to steal signs with the 15-second pitch clock in effect.
The Boulders ended up winning the game, 2-1.
