MLB star Tommy Pham claims a fan on deck called him a “piece of shit” before accusing the man of racism: The Diamondbacks hitter responded with a home run and a triple to defeat the Padres, his former team
- Pham previously played for the Padres but left as a free agent in 2022
- According to the Padres, the fans involved in the exchange were not expelled from the field
- offers the latest international sports news
Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Tommy Pham hit a home run and a three-pointer in the win over the Padres on Saturday, but his day will likely be remembered for a mundane slugfest with some front-row fans in San Diego.
Pham got into an altercation with some bystanders near the cover circle before his first bat in the first inning, although the two parties have differing views as to exactly what happened.
“She was drunk,” Pham, a former Padres outfielder, told reporters after Saturday’s doubleheader. ‘For you, Tommy Pham, that’s why we got rid of you.’ I say, ‘Lady, I’ve gotten a free hand.’ They haven’t got rid of me… In fact, they tried to re-sign me.’
A fan video has since gone viral and shows Pham reacting to viewers, claiming one of them called him “a bastard”.
“Don’t disrespect me like that,” Pham told the fan, who dismissed the claim.
Pham got into an altercation with some spectators near the cover circle in the first inning
A fan video has since gone viral showing Pham reacting to viewers
“I didn’t,” the man is heard saying.
When the fan said, “Hit out,” Black Pham accused him of racism.
“It’s always funny when a white man — a white man — feels like he can’t respect me,” Pham said. “A black man or a Latino don’t do that shit.”
Video of the incident was posted online by Patrick Dailey, a Padres fan whose wife was in attendance and appeared to be the person who filmed the exchange.
A Padres spokesman said no fans were thrown from the stadium as a result of the verbal altercation.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said of the altercation, “These fans are awful for Tommy.” “I’m hearing some awful things from the stands… It’s ugly and I felt uncomfortable from my vantage point.”
Pham got the last laugh on Saturday when he hit a two-run homer and a triple in a 6-4 win over his former team.
The former Padres slugger left San Diego as a free agency in 2022 and went to Cincinnati. He has since played for the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets before joining Phoenix before this season’s trade deadline.