Missouri baseball team reverses course on $5 fines for players and coaches

T.R. Hughes ballpark, home of the River City Rascals. (Rivercityrascals.com)

The River City Rascals, a Missouri baseball team in the independently run Frontier League, has changed its mind when it comes to fining players and coaches for throwing balls into the stands.

According to a report from Darren Rovell of ESPN, the team had initially decided that it would deduct $5 from the paycheck of any player or coach who tossed a ball into the stands. As of Wednesday, a sign in their dugout had read:

"Players and coaches will now be fined $5 for each ball that is tossed into the stands. We ask that you return every ball back to the dugout, including at the end of innings and games."

According to the report, it was requested by the team owners that this policy not be discussed with fans.

As of Wednesday evening, however, news of the policy prompted stern objections throughout social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. By Thursday morning, the team's general manager, Dan Dial, said the Rascals have decided to do away with the $5 fine, according to the report:

"We have reversed it but won't be discussing it any further at ownership's request."