Tommy Pham’s big day at the plate also came with some controversy in the on-deck circle.
The former Met and current Diamondbacks outfielder homered at the dish but got into a heated verbal altercation with a fan at Petco Park in San Diego during Arizona’s 6-4 win in the first game of a doubleheader.
Pham is seen in the first inning— in a video a Padres season ticket holder said was taken by his wife — yelling toward a fan, appearing to claim the fan called him “a piece of s–t.”
“Don’t disrespect me like that,” Pham is heard saying before he gets up to bat.
After someone in the crowd then told the outfielder to “go strike out,” Pham turned back around and continued to jaw with the people in the seats.
“It’s always funny when you’ve got a white man — a white man — feel like they can disrespect me,” Pham said as he pointed to his chest. … A black man or a Latin don’t do that s–t.”
After Ketel Marte struck out, Pham, who was traded by the Mets to Arizona at the trade deadline, then went up to the plate.
After the game, Pham addressed the spat with reporters.
“I’m all for good banter, he stepped out of line, he said something that got him kicked out,” Pham said of the fan. “Fans here, man, I just don’t get it. Not even at the field, even away from the field — completely disrespectful. Maybe they weren’t raised right because I was always taught respect until someone doesn’t give you it.”
Pham was then asked who said the alleged disparaging comments toward him.
“Older white gentleman called me a piece of shit. I don’t think that’s acceptable, especially when you’re so close to the on-deck circle — neither do the security.”
The fan who posted the original video tweeted that the person Pham yelled at “has never been disrespectful to a player” and “nothing he has ever said has elicited a response like this.”
Pham also discussed a recent incident near the team hotel in San Diego, where he said a woman who was inebriated started to berate him.
“She was drunk. ‘F you, Tommy Pham, that’s why we got rid of you.’ I’m like, ‘Lady, I reached free agency,” Pham said, according to D-backs reporter Jesse Friedman. They didn’t get rid of me. In fact, they tried to re-sign me.’ … People man, right outside the hotel.”
Last year as a member of the Reds, he was the center of controversy when he slapped Giants outfielder Joc Pederson over a high-stakes fantasy football issue.
Pham accepted a three-game suspension and a fine of an undisclosed amount.
On the field Saturday, Pham finished 2-for-5 with a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored in the victory.
He’s now hitting .267 with an .822 OPS this year.
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