[greymule]

When I played, there was a torrent of heckling throughout the game. (It was rough, but everyone seemed to know the limits.) We figured that was just tradition, and if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. I never saw an attack on or even a threat to an official, though. Fans used to try to outdo each other with clever insults to the umpire, usually involving seeing-eye dogs, getaway cars, missing a good game, using his one good eye, and so on.

In later years, I saw many more players take the heckling personally, with fist fights over things that my generation would have ignored. I've seen a LL umpire walk away from the plate and down the RF line to lecture the fans and warn that any more comments would terminate the game. (In that case, the complaints had actually been brief and quite subdued. And the call they moaned about was indeed horrible.) Now at many parks detailed signs are posted prohibiting use of tobacco or liquor, use of profanity, arguing with officials, etc., with the relevant statute cited.

In the youth leagues here in NJ, I've seen coaches tossed and fans ejected for very minor things ("Call 'em both ways, Blue!) and watched the police arrive to remove a single loudmouth. But I have also seen behavior worse than any I ever saw in the "old days" (drunken father cursing out the ten-year-old who's playing right field instead of his more-deserving son). That guy they didn't throw out.