Thursday, a day after getting doused with beer while making a catch at Wrigley
Field.
The incident is being investigating as a "simple
battery," police spokesman Michael Fitzpatrick said.
Victorino was hit with a cup of beer thrown from the
bleachers Wednesday night in the Phillies' 12-5 win over the Chicago Cubs. The
All-Star outfielder still managed to make the catch, and Cubs' management
apologized to him Thursday.
"It's part of the game. It's one of those things that
happens and I just want to make sure that guy gets what's due," Victorino said.
"I think he needs to be held accountable. But for the
most part, I just see it as the guy thought it was fun. It is what it is. It
didn't cost me in any way and it didn't hurt me in any way. It's part of the
ballgame," he said.
Cubs chairman Crane Kenney apologized in person to
Victorino before the series finale. Cubs manager Lou Piniella and general
manager Jim Hendry also offered apologies.
"I said, 'Listen, sorry,'" Kenney said after talking to
Victorino near the Phillies' dugout.
"It shouldn't have happened here. It's not a good
reflection on our city or organization," he said. "We're going to do whatever we
can to make sure that things are made right here. And he said, 'I know you are
and I appreciate your help.'"
Victorino was on the warning track and in front of the
ivy-covered wall, set to catch a sacrifice fly by Jake Fox in the fifth inning,
when the cup of beer came flying out of the bleachers and went all over him.
According to local media reports, security personnel
questioned a man who was taunting Victorino while the fan who actually threw the
beer got away.
"I just think that, not so much that I want to press
charges or file anything against him. I just think he's probably sitting at home
thinking he got away with it. I hope that he gets the understanding that you
can't be doing things like that," Victorino said.
"I don't think he'd be walking too far if something like
that happened in the streets. It's just not something that you do. For the most
part, in the big picture, this guy should be held accountable and something
should be done," he said.
Kenney called the incident "an assault."
"The obvious one is he threw some beer on him. But let's
say the beer was in his eyes and he got hit in the head. Then, what's the next
thing that gets thrown from the stands?" Kenney said.
"It just can't happen for safety reasons and it's just
not right."
One of baseball's most-known beer showers also came in
Chicago. In the 1959 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, White Sox
outfielder Al Smith was at the wall trying to track a home run when a fan's beer
sprayed in his face.
The picture of Smith getting doused – the beer spilled
when the fan tried to catch the ball – remains one of baseball's most famous
photos.