Fans in the outfield bleachers react after another fan fell over the rail trying to catch a ball in the second inning of the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics MLB American League baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday. – Reuters ARLINGTON, Texas — A fan fell to his death at Rangers Ballpark Thursday after catching a ball tossed to him by Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton. The man was reaching for a ball thrown to him by Hamilton during the second inning and toppled over a railing after making the catch. Television pictures showed him falling some 20 feet from the outfield seats to a paved area behind a scoreboard. It is almost a year to the day since a similar accident at Rangers Ballpark when fan Tyler Morris fell from the second level to the lower bowl while trying to catch a foul ball on July 6, 2010. He suffered a fractured skull and broken ankle. “We are deeply saddened that the man who fell has passed away as a result of this tragic accident,” club President Nolan Ryan said in a statement on the Rangers website. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.” The Rangers clubhouse was closed following the game as the players were informed of the tragedy. “We spoke to the ballclub, so they understand what happened,” Ryan said. “As any of us would be, Josh is very distraught over this.” The fan landed in sight of the Oakland bullpen. “They had him on a stretcher and were carrying him out,” local media quoted A's relief pitcher Brad Ziegler as saying. “He was staying stuff like: ‘Please check on my son.' And people were telling him: ‘We'll check on your son, sir.' “I think he had his arm splinted from falling, but he was conscious and moving. To come in and find out about this is just tough.” Texas won the game 6
