TORONTO — When Joe Carter hit his legendary three-run, walk-off home run to clinch the 1993 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays, players flooded onto the field and began jumping for joy, high-fiving each other.
But they weren’t alone. A number of ecstatic fans stormed onto the diamond to join the party.
None became more immortalized than Mark Astrom, whose face can be seen in TV footage and press photos as the players celebrated, a moment he says he’ll never forget.
“It was incredible,” said Astrom.
While fans are now paying thousands for resale tickets to Game 6 of the World Series on Friday night between the Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers, Astrom and a friend snagged scalped seats just before the final game in 1993 for $130 each.
“$130 to experience a World Series victory on home soil for the first time? Priceless,” Astrom said.
It was at that game in the bottom of the ninth, as Carter stepped to the plate, that Astrom told his friend he was going to do something big if Carter belts out a homer.
“I said, ‘If he hits it out, I’m going to run onto the field,’” he said. “It was just the instinct of I’m here. I’m this close and we’re going to win it. So why not?”
He says the moment was absolutely riveting. As the ball sailed towards the outfield, Astrom made his move.
“I sprinted down the stairs, had to duck an usher,” he said, who was 26 at the time. “It was absolutely a whirlwind. I just made the commitment, ran, sprinted. I was at home plate when Joe was rounding third.”
Everyone was jumping, celebrating and patting each other on the back. At one point, Astrom says second baseman Roberto Alomar’s hand was on his back and he rested his hand on outfielder Rickey Henderson’s back. Astrom also intercepted a CBS Sports camera.
“I shoved my mug in front of it and said, ‘Hey mom!’” He says there’s a photo of him with one hand in the air, “celebrating with pure joy on my face for the Jays and having witnessed it”.
Astrom figures he was on the field for no more than 90 seconds before a police officer grabbed him and escorted him past the Philadelphia Phillies dugout, where he was released.
“I just went back up to the seats to enjoy the insanity of the stadium and then joined all of the fine folks on Yonge Street.”
Astrom has a collection of enlarged photos from his big moment celebrating with the team. Would he do it again?
“It was perfect to do it once and do it that well,” he said. “No need to repeat it.”
He believes today’s heightened security and safety netting around the field would make such a feat almost impossible to do again.
As for Game 6? He’s not willing to pay thousands for a ticket this time and will be watching on TV with his family.
But looking back on his adventure 32 years ago?
“It makes me laugh. It was a lot of fun.”
