The family of a woman who died after a foul ball struck her in the head at Dodgers Stadium is calling for baseball stadiums across the country to improve safety measures for fans.
Erwin and Linda Goldbloom attended a Los Angeles Dodgers game Aug. 25, 2018, at Dodgers Stadium to celebrate Linda’s 79th birthday and the couple’s 59th wedding anniversary. At the top of the ninth inning, a foul ball was hit into the stands and struck Linda Goldbloom in the head, Erwin Goldbloom told KTLA-TV.
“[It] came so quick that we didn’t have time to react. Nobody did in our area,” he told KABC-TV.
Linda Goldbloom was rushed to a hospital, where she underwent emergency brain surgery, but she died two days later. An autopsy report said she died “due to acute intracranial hemorrhage due to history of blunt force trauma.”
Every Major League Baseball stadium has protective netting extended around the dugout, ABC News reported. But Linda Goldbloom’s family wants the netting to be higher.
“We don’t want fans to have a false sense of security, like, ‘We’re fine now, the nets are widened,’” said Linda and Erwin Goldbloom’s daughter, Jana Brody, according to the LA Times. “These guys hit balls hard, and they’re throwing 100 mph pitches.”
The Goldbloom family settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the Dodgers for an undisclosed amount.
The Dodgers released the following statement on the matter to KABC-TV:
“Mr. and Mrs. Goldbloom were great Dodgers fans who regularly attended games. We were deeply saddened by this tragic accident and the passing of Mrs. Goldbloom. The matter has been resolved between the Dodgers and the Goldbloom family. We cannot comment further on this matter.”