.jpg) A Stroh's beer promotion was blamed for the riot | |
| Date | June 4, 1974 |
|---|---|
| Time | Evening |
| Location | Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 41°30′21″N 81°42′0″W / 41.50583°N 81.70000°W |
| Cause | Fan animosity from previous game combined with low-point beer being sold cheaply and liberally (10 cents per cup, up to 6 cups per purchase) |
| Participants | Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers baseball clubs, several thousand inebriated attendees |
| Outcome | Rangers/Indians game forfeited to Texas |
| Non-fatal injuries | Various players, officials, and fans (exact count unknown) |
| Property damage | Damage to the field of Cleveland Stadium; bases stolen, never returned |
| Suspects | 9 fans arrested |
| Charges | Disorderly conduct |
Ten Cent Beer Night was a promotion held by Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians during a game against the Texas Rangers at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., on June 4, 1974. The promotion was meant to improve attendance at the game by offering cups of beer for just 10 cents each (equivalent to $0.62 in 2023), a substantial discount on the regular price of 65 cents (equivalent to $4.02 in 2023), with a limit of six beers per purchase but no limit on the number of purchases made during the game.
Six days earlier, the Indians and the Rangers had been involved in a widely publicized bench-clearing brawl; the game therefore drew a rowdy and belligerent crowd. As the game proceeded, on-field incidents and massive alcohol consumption further agitated the crowd, many of whom threw lit firecrackers, streaked across the playing field, and openly smoked marijuana. Most sober fans departed early, leaving an increasingly drunk and unruly mob behind. Continued degradation of the game culminated in a riot in the ninth inning when fans rushed the field. Players were forced to protect themselves with their bats while retreating from the field. Chief umpire Nestor Chylak declared the game to be forfeited in Texas's favor due to the mob's uncontrollable behavior.