Out-of-Control Twins Fan Recalls Time He Muttered 'Nice Catch…Not' at Opposition

[RandBalls Stu]

'I was more animal than man...it's something I deal with every day.'

Image courtesy of Unsplash/Jonathan Cosen

The 2024 World Series ended Wednesday, with the Los Angeles Dodgers taking Game 5 from the New York Yankees, 7-6. While the Bronx Bombers were clearly outplayed, they managed to provide the Series’s most infamous moment, when a pair of Yankees fans attempted to remove a foul ball from Mookie Betts’s glove in Game 4.

“That could’ve been me,” said Neil Matthewson, 58, a Twins season ticket holder. “It’s embarrassing, but it’s true.”

The Chaska native told Twins Daily that he’s had some less-than-admirable moments in his seats along the right field line at Target Field.

“We were in a real tense game against the Blue Jays a couple years ago, and Teoscar Hernández lost a ball in the sun,” said Matthewson. “I said, ‘Nice catch…not,’ under my breath, but I’m pretty sure the usher heard me. She kinda laughed, but I’m not proud of it.”

Matthewson said this was not the first time he went “beast mode” at the park.

“When Aaron Bummer was with the White Sox, he walked the bases loaded and got pulled,” said the advertising executive. “I stood up and clapped for him, but it was pretty clear that I was being sarcastic. There were some kids in the area, so I made sure to apologize to them and their parents.”

He said that he doesn’t know where this darkness comes from, and that while he doesn’t condone the behavior of the Yankees fans in Game 4, he understands it.

“I just really am passionate about the Minnesota Twins, like they are for New York, and we want them to succeed,” said Matthewson. “But sometimes it can go overboard. For example, I was behind a car with a Guardians bumper sticker on 212 the other day that changed lanes without signaling. I leaned on my horn pretty good, even though it didn’t bother me any. Not a great moment for ol’ Neil.”

Matthewson’s friends and family confirm that he’s almost always easygoing and non-confrontational, but that sometimes “the animal” comes out when the Twins are involved.

“When Houston eliminated the Twins from the playoffs last year, Dad took it hard,” said his son, Parker. “He actually stood up after the last out, put both hands on the railing in front of him, lowered his head, and said, and I quote, ‘Dammit.’

“He said he was sorry the entire drive home and asked if the Twins might take his season tickets away.”

Image license here.

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[Schmoeman5]

How does he sleep at night?  😄 

[Cris E]

An article like this isn't going to help matters. It's just making him into our own Steve Bartman, a man haunted by his mistakes and vilified by his fellow fans. The best thing we can do is allow him room to sit with his shame and, perhaps, grow into a fanhood he can be proud of.

[ashbury]

Target Field is known around the majors as a very tough place to compete, and it's because of the fans.  An opposing player, regardless of the team, needs to understand coming in that no matter how stellar a play he might make, the fans will sit on their hands and not even acknowledge the success.  The guys on the home team get used to it after a while.  But it really weighs down on a visiting athlete if he's not prepared.

[pierre75275]

Somewhere, undoubtedly, his and Joe Mauer:s family trees' cross 

[KikiMN]

I once sent in a scoreboard message that read "The Wave is Lame". I thought for sure it was too vulgar to post, but there it was the last weekend of the season. 

[mrcharlie]

True Story.

Some guy threw several chicken hearts onto the bench of the Boston Bruins during a North Stars game.  Seems the North Stars fan had access to cases of whole chickens at work.  He had read that Wayne Cashman (Bruins goon) had called out the 'Stars as "...chicken hearted".  This was his opportunity to defend his beloved North Stars!   It is known that the fan hired a high priced lawyer to represent the 26 year old man in court.  While the judge admired his fandom of the North Stars he did sentence him to one year probation.   

I miss those North Stars and still hope Wayne Cashman enjoyed the chicken hearts shower!!

[mluebker]

Jeez, I didn't realize ragging on players from the stands was cause for so much guilt!

I remember one game at Met Stadium in the early seventies when Amos Otis was in centerfield for the Royals. We got down under the stands so we could see him straight through the outfield fence, then did running commentary on his play (which was better than we pretended) all afternoon. We got on his nerves, but he still was pretty cool about it.

And in the mid-eighties, we'd often wander over to the Metrodome, buy seats near first base (the "crowds" could be sparse in those days), then holler at Kent Hrbek that his favorite post-game meal was a dozen doughnuts and a 12-pack of beer, or similar witticisms. He took it a lot better than some of his fans who were seated nearby. And of course, we were fans, as well--we cheered like crazy when he made a good play or got on base.

We thought we were having fun. Now it sounds like I'm gonna have to go to confession!