TORONTO — George Springer has heard almost everything from opposing fan bases throughout his career, the price every clutch postseason performer pays as their career goes on. It has been laid on even thicker in road games since the 2019 revelation of the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scheme.
So when he was asked before Game 7 of the ALCS how he felt when Seattle Mariners fans booed him when he crumbled to the ground when a 95-mph pitch struck him on the right knee in Game 5, he demurred. Just concerned about his health, he said.
Yet that hit a little different for Springer’s father, George Jr., who had to watch his son berated by a sellout crowd at T-Mobile Park, with fans cursing the slugger as he writhed in pain.
Even when Springer and the Toronto Blue Jays got a significant measure of revenge when he hit a go-ahead three-run home run that sent the Blue Jays to the World Series and eliminated the Mariners, father was still stinging about son getting booed while he was suffering.
“I’ll be completely honest about that: That was the most despicable fan behavior I have ever witnessed. Anywhere,” Springer’s father told USA TODAY Sports. “I’ve been to soccer games and football games and obviously Major League Baseball games the past 12 years, in playoff environments, in tough places to play.
“I have never seen a fan base boo a player who was injured. Rejoice in their injury. Those fans will now have a very long offseason to reflect on their behavior.”
Springer’s 23rd career postseason home run came off Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo and flipped a two-run Blue Jays deficit into a 4-3 victory. The Mariners are still seeking their first trip to the World Series, left to wonder about next year, which came far sooner than they would have imagined.
The elder Springer hopes it allows ample time for soul-searching for the fans cursing his son right behind him at T-Mobile Park.
“I hope when they come back in the spring, and cheer on their team,” he says, “they’ll be better fans and better people.”