Ten-Cent Beer Night

June 4, 1974, Cleveland Stadium. The Indians, trying to fill a ballpark that was usually empty, priced beer at ten cents. Other clubs had tried the same promotion with a hard limit of two. Cleveland's limit of six was not enforced once the concession stands fell behind, and fans were allowed to fill cups from Stroh's trucks parked behind the outfield fence. The crowd was 25,134, more than double the usual draw.

The night had a grudge in it. A week earlier there had been trouble in Texas, and Rangers manager Billy Martin had joked that Cleveland did not have enough fans to worry about. People ran onto the field through the game. In the ninth a fan went after right fielder Jeff Burroughs's cap. Martin led his players out, some of them carrying bats. The Indians came out to help the visitors. Reliever Tom Hilgendorf was hit with a chair.

Crew chief Nestor Chylak, injured in the melee, forfeited the game to Texas, 9–0. The promotion had worked. The ballgame had not survived it.