Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said Tuesday night that he “popped” Sunday not only because of his exchange with a female fan during the Cubs-White Sox game at Rate Field but because of multiple vile comments that other spectators made about his mother.
“It wasn’t just her,” he said of the fan. “It was her and a compilation of getting my mom called a whore [while I was on deck] for five straight at-bats. And then I popped.”
Crow-Armstrong said Major League Baseball informed him Monday that he was being fined for “comments made to a fan” moments after he missed what would have been an extraordinary catch in the fifth inning. According to industry sources, the fine was for $5,000.
The fan, who said she was holding her engagement party in the stadium’s ground-level patio section, told the Sun-Times she booed Crow-Armstrong and told him, “You suck!” when he was just a few feet away.
Crow-Armstrong’s profane response was widely viewed on social media. He expressed regret Monday for the language he used.
“I’m just bummed out about the word choice and that a bunch of little kids probably find their way to social media and see that as well,” he said.
Crow-Armstrong has the right to appeal the fine. Asked Tuesday if he intended to, he said, “No comment” and left the clubhouse.