Have you talked to your son about this?

We definitely talked about it.  My advice to him was just to have fun with it.  If you can laugh with/at them you're ahead of the game.  If they see that they're getting to you, you're screwed.

I think trying to ignore is the best course. I've seen HS coaches trying to intimidate opposing pitchers and hitters with a sort of heckling... Backhanded compliments and that sort of thing. Parents too and more often the case. Player just can't respond. Even laughing at it might encourage the heckler to continue on, especially if dealing with fans at the pro level. "If you don't want em to get your goat, don't let em know where you keep it hid".

I remember my son telling me during his freshman year he (the RF) and the senior 1B were both growing (trying to grow might be a better term) these "cheesy mustaches." The opposing fans began calling them Mario and Luigi and kept it up most of the weekend. My son said some of the stuff they were coming out with was just hysterical. By Sunday, getting no real reaction from the 2 of them it kind of ended.

It's all about how you take it. Getting heckled as a baseball player occurs so much that most just completely tune it out.

i have been discussing this with my 2016 for a long time. Not really for the heckling aspect but rather to let him learn how to get in the zone and block out all the nonsense. Worked decently from just trying but about a year ago  he signed up for some yoga classes in order to work on balance, it's been remarkable as now he can almost get into a dream state while playing. Seen massive improvements so far this year.

Growing up my kids played in enough tournaments in Northern New Jersey to learn to tune out jack arse parents. College students aren't any worse.

My daughter didn't even complain when an opposing team dad sexually harassed her for several innings. We didn't know what was going on until after the game when my daughter insulted him back (which I scolded her for).

I'm not worried about my kid in this regard.  The HS baseball games around here are like croquet matches compared to some of the low-class garbage I've seen from parents and sometimes even kids at travel tournaments.  Plus, my 2017 plays basketball, so he is used to having 300 or so students in the stands chanting taunts and put-downs at away and even home games.  The players learn to tune it out, and have fun with it when they can.  And finally, my kid was a youth LL umpire for years, and that taught him to stand up for himself against opinionated adults.

Funny, mine kind of had the same experience in the Philadelphia area...

Chris Cates was a 5'3" All American shortstop from Louisville. He said the opposing fans laid it on thick. He did an interview on how funny some of the stuff was. He said he favorite was,  "Mow the grass so the shortstop can see?"

I was raised Jewish and was exposed to some anti-Semitic slurs during my playing years. One game, I was warming up in the bullpen and was informed by a fairly intoxicated fan that they planned on "meeting" my then-15 year old sister, using some inappropriate language and slurs during said comment. The starting pitcher got out of the inning and I was able to sit down and take a rest. The heckling, however, continued. 

Before returning to the mound to throw more, I signed a baseball and tossed it toward the fan. It read:

"How much did you pay for the ticket to watch me play baseball tonight? Enjoy the game."

You have no idea how bad it can get at a college softball game.  My daughter has been called every name in the book and every other type of insult you can imagine.  In fact, her freshman year a group of young men were calling her something and so, I got up went over and asked them to step outside the friendly confines of their sports park.  The two biggest mouths couldn't seem to be able to back their mouths up.  Oh, they came over to our dugout side to say things to her while she was on deck.  So, I figured they wanted trouble and I was more than willing. 

Son's junior year he was playing left field. One weekend trip the college had erected party decks around the outfield and used them as a fund raiser for alumni and student groups. Saturday was like a spring homecoming weekend people everywhere. The group in the left field deck was apparently giving it to him pretty good. However by the end of the weekend one of the girls was trying to get his phone number on Facebook.  Also said he was unaware his mother had ever spent that much time in that part of Alabama. 

Favorite pro heckling at a Cardinal game sitting by visitors on deck circle.Playing Brewers, Jason Motte flame throwing rookie comes in. Casey McGahee in on deck watching him warm up. Joker behind us yells "sit down McGahee, you can't hit him.". He turns around with a huge grin on his face and says "neither can you". Cracked up the whole section. Of course he then promtly lined a single into right center. 

The Texas Tech guy Is ways wrong when people lose their perspective and sense of right and wrong. 

My kiddo first got the treatment as a 9 year old pitcher in a tournament from the opponent parents...insults, ice thrown at him, etc.  He ignored it.  I couldn't have been more proud of him.

I find it interesting all the talk in the media is about a gentle push from Marcus Smart toward a guy that calls him a thug n****r.  Where's the talk about the idiot in the stands?  Where is his suspension?  He's supposed to be the adult, right?  Any wonder why kids today are messed up when their parent figures are idiots like this Texas Tech fan?

Didn't look like what I would call a "gentle push." And, I think you need to read the reports on what was said. Smart tried to play the race card and it didn't play. I don't like the fact that the fan was obviously out of line, but my gosh...are we now going to condone players being physical with fans? Players, particularly one who is likely going to be playing professionally, better learn to focus on the game and not the fans.

JBB - Good thread subject with the beginning of the season coming up.  I agree it is something that needs to be discussed by coaches and parents to their players of all ages.   I know all three of my boys have seen it up close and personal. 

My oldest son was on a spring break trip to the Mid-Atlantic area his freshmen year where they had multiple doubleheaders scheduled.  One school (which I will not name) had several staggering and slurring drunk students at 12pm heckling our left fielder by hanging over the fence and yelling at him.  My family and other families moved their seats & blankets to another part of the field because he was dropping the "f" bomb left and right in front of many little kids.  It wasn't a good scene.   A couple days later, we're at James Madison University.  Some students starting heckling our team and my freshmen son when he came in to pitch relief.  Immediately several JMU parents & fans told the students to "knock it off".  The students stopped. 

I plan to talk to my youngest son (hs junior) about hecklers.   He's pitched in front of large crowds before and I'm pretty sure he blocks it all out.  But it is a good reminder.

Well, Mr. Orr is a big fella and the push didn't cause him to fall to the ground.  How hard could it have been.  But having said that, I didn't condone Smart's actions.  Why is Orr's behavior being dismissed?  Why do we have higher behavior expectations of a college player than a middle age man watching the game?

This is not accurate at all and the enhanced audio has proven it.  The guy called Smart a "piece of crap" and that was it.  Much worse is said every day.  As soon as this incident happened, statements like Orr said, the "n word" immediately hit the internet.  It has been reported since then as facts.  There are plenty of places you can now hear exactly what was said.  I'll save the rest of my commentary and what I really think.

Per Smart, I don't think he deserved a 3 game suspension.  IMO, he and college basketball could have better been served with something like a one game suspension and/OR some community service.  I vote community service.  This incident could have been made into a positive by demonstrating that fans are out of control and need to be reigned in some.  However it turned in to ...  Like I said, I'll save you having to hear my real thoughts.

 Not dismissing Orr's behavior. He apologized, will not attend any Tech games the rest of this year,etc. The issue is, can Marcus Smart continue to be the tremendous player that he is and control his emotions. 

...and can Orr be Tech's "#1 fan" and act like a responsible adult as he watches a game played by college kids.  And, don't forget Orr's penalty is self imposed...he can, and probably will, change his mind and be back to seeing games in person this season.  Maybe his penalty should be putting him in the middle of the OSU student section in the rematch? 

There are some college programs in which fan heckling is extremely organized and institutionalized. They have songs and chants for specific situations, and areas of the stands devote themselves to heckling the position player in front of them.

TPM can attest to the art form that Clemson has made of heckling. Florida State and Florida are also very good at it. 

My son loved it. It's all in good fun, even though it can certainly be over the top and offensive when they really get going. 

I'll never forget watching and hearing the Clemson right field stands abuse my son for three games. They do their research. They asked if his sister Jessica was there. He learned things about his mother that she never told him. It was a constant stream of shouting, anything that comes to their mind, however senseless. And when he was parked under a fly ball, they really tried to distract him. 

He sees the humor in it, and enjoys it. He sees it as part of the game, and he likes the energy it brings to the atmosphere. 

TPM - I am certain you must have a million stories after watching three years of games at Clemson?

Right field...Cheap Seats and Cajun Cafe...fueled by a little more than baseball passion! haha They do keep it interesting.

Hecklers are usu losers who are either  drunk or jealous they don't have the skills of the players on the court or field. Have no prob w fans behind basket yelling to distract on free throws-that's part of game, makes players mentally strong. Hecklers who yell personal things r classless. It's one thing to comment on players actions on field/court but to make it personal crosses the line of civility.  

we had an adult heckler at a Summer tourn-he wasn't a parent just  slug who walked into college field and stood behind catcher. Who knows if people like that have mental issues or what. 

To this point, all that has been proven with evidence is that he called Smart a "piece of crap."  If that is the standard then we will have to clear out every sports stadium, gym, baseball field, ...  Huskers, what evidence do you have that Orr did more?  Again, the claims of racial slurs have been disproved. 

No one knows what was said.  Smart has not said, he didn't say it was racial...that was the twitter universe.  Orr said he said "piece of crap"...based on his past behavior, hard to believe he controlled his language to that degree.  The audio from the video is jumbled and doesn't connect what you can her to Orr (and there's no way to know he stopped at that if it was him).  Do you really think this guy Orr would be ashamed if it was just those 3 words....come on...

Regardless, my point is hold grown adults not playing the game to at least the same behavior standard you hold college players to.  Things have gotten out of hand.

Getting back to the original topic...I talked to my kid(and continue to talk to him even as a junior in college) about not listening to fans and other outside distractions. He knows if he ever reacted like Marcus Smart did, I would yank him off the field even today.  The conversation has to start early and continue to be reinforced.  

I don't think my son and I ever talked much about the issue.  I think I told him once was the way you answer a heckler is with performance.  I think he told me that he loves playing the game so much that he doesn't notice it that much.

I think we should be having this discussion among the people who are attending the games.  I think heckling is a dishonorable thing to do and I wish people wouldn't do it.  I don't see anything humorous in it and it seems designed to harm.  I am not saying I never disagreed with an umpire's call but I didn't heckle him the rest of the game for making the wrong call.  I think heckling players is wrong and it takes away from the enjoyment of the game.  I don't go to a game to see how creative people in the stands can be at heckling umpires or players.  I go to watch the players compete.  People who are drawing attention to themselves in this manner are there for the wrong reasons. 

When I said Orr called Smart a "piece of crap," it is because I heard that audio.  Again, there is enhanced audio all over the net now of this and audio that was presented by the university.  I heard "piece of crap" and, imo, no other insult was uttered in that time.  Almost the entire section of people sitting there have been interviewed now.  (The difference is when this was turned in to a Racial Thing.)  Not one said that they heard a racial slur.  Not one technical guy working in the area said that they heard a racial slur. 

Again, much worse is said at every sports event.  At the University of Missouri, the "Antlers" were removed for several games because of their actions including chants.  Good for the U. of Missouri.  My daughter was attacked and the AD of that school refused to intervene so I intervened.  Problem is I was the one threatened with being removed.  I am not defending Orr.  I am stating that when certain accusations are made, then they are more serious in this time and so, produce the evidence.  That should not be a problem with all of the technology available at this game. 

CD I agree about heckling and so, agree that I wish it would not be done.  My impression of hecklers is always that they couldn't play so they vent on those that can.  IMO, it is jealousy or envy because they suck at playing whatever sport. 

My lefty got his first heckle around age 10.  His team was disbanding and he had just tried out for another coach whom we had to be playing later that week.  Note:  Opposing coach did not want him for next season…

As the game was ready to begin with my son on the mound warming up, coach made a loud comment to his team gathered for the pregame pep talk.  Loudly declared – “He’s hittable, he’s got nothing.. today is batting practice”…This continued and whenever anyone was on 1^st, comment was “He doesn’t have a pick off move, run freely”….

Well as you can imagine son just took it in stride and proved he was better.  Did good pitching but did better with picking off 4 kids, coaches son twice!  (Imagine same coach at first base yelling at his kid NOT to take a leadoff and still getting picked)

At the end of the game opposing coach came over and said: you did a lot better today than at tryouts.  If you want – I have a spot for you.  Son’s reply was Thanks…but I’m still looking...

Moral – the younger the kid the easier it is to handle.  Let them learn and deal with it internally and not externally.  See how they respond verses telling them how to respond.  If they have good character – it will come out.

From the mouth of a 7 year old….”Your team is crap, you s#ck!”…Yeah but we still beat you.

I agree with all of that, but still...there's plenty of hecklers out there...  To me, its kind of a cowardly thing to do.  You know the player can't respond really and so a heckler who loves this kind of behavior can lob just about anything they want.  I do wish other fans would police these idiots.  Could you imagine having your season tickets next to Jeff Orr?  Ai yai yai!

I don't ever recall talking to our sons about this stuff.  I know they've been heckled and I know they often think its more on the funny side of things than anything else.  Still, I wonder how anyone would restrain themself in the heat of a game...diving after a ball...and some goofy guy calls you a "piece of crap" or whatever else Orr may have said?  I just wonder if I coulda held back myself?!

I once said something to a heckler.  Younger guy and his wife/girlfriend at a double-A game.  Rant, rant, rant...on he went with all kinds of really stupid sounding stuff...quite personal.  Yep, some of it was directed at my son.  As I got up to leave that section of the stands, I politely (really did..politely) said something to him about what he had to say to my son.  The guy had a stunned and sheepish look...as did his wife/girlfriend.  Somehow, this goofy heckler never expected to be confronted by someone with a direct tie to the player.  The look on his face was more of the, 'Oh $hit' variety.  Still, I kinda wish I had kept my mouth shut.

It should never be an issue if you deal with it like a hockey player would...

The best heckling payback I saw was at a Flyers-Leafs game. Tie Domi was in the penalty box. Tie Domi was a tough maniac. He accrued 200+ penalty minutes in a typical year. There were years he hit 300+.

Flyers fans behind the penalty box were giving him abuse. He squirted one with his water bottle. A fan leaned over the glass giving Domi a rash of abuse. Then the fan's worst nightmare occurred. The partition collapsed. The fan fell into the penalty box with Domi. Picture falling into the lion's den. Its on YouTube.

There is heckling and getting on a player and then their is abusing a player. Getting on an opposing player is as old as the game of baseball. If you have ever heard the original and full recording of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" you will hear of the girl ,who the song is about, giving it to the opposing ballplayers, "good and strong". Once that line is crossed to abuse my feelings are that the fan should be ejected. I would have loved to see the look on that guys face when Justbaseball gave it to him good and nice! That would have been priceless. Back in High School my son was given it real good whenever we played a district rival, who is a perennial nationally ranked high school, really bad. Since he played third base he was right next to the rabid fan base that just wouldn't shut up. He turned it around to motivate himself to make plays to keep them quite.  And after years of traveling to Miami Dade county to play in tournaments he was kind of used to it!

And lets be clear on this What Mr. Orr did at that game was not heckling or razzing or anything other than abusing a ballplayer. Not condoning the reaction because two wrongs do not make a right, but Orr was way, way,way out of line.

That was a good one too.  Domi was a madman.  

The one with Rob Ray and the fan that went over the glass in Quebec was another good one.  I always remember one of Ray's teammates saying something like, gotta give the guy credit he hung in there for 15 good ones (punches) from Rob Ray.

As an FYI, I was just watching the news and they reported that there was, "an extensive investigation into this incident" and that the one thing said was "piece of crap." The news focused as much on the audio support to verify exactly what was said. This after one of the pundits made the assertion of a racial slur. The other pundits absolutely gunned that down.

IMO, I think that Smart has shown a lot of class by taking the suspension.  Orr is not innocent.  In watching these pundits argue as to what is acceptable in a sports arena, it seems athletes are fair game for almost anything. 

Son's team played at school last year and it was $1 beer night and one fan was really giving it to our bench. It was not just heckling but foul mouth verbal abuse. By the end of the game I had enough and went up to the guy and ask him if he liked abusing 18-21  year old kids maybe he would like to pick on someone his own age, of course when faced with someone that could fight back most of these guys back down quickly. Gave me some kind of bull that these kids have to be toughen up if they wanted to play in the pro's. Never figured out why this type thinks that God ordained them as the person that is responsible for "toughening kids" up for the pro's....thank goodness my 70 year old parents were attending the game with me otherwise I might have done something stupid and drilled the guy, but really did not have to do much.....he backed down quickly when confronted with someone that could fight back.

Still amazed they had a beer promotion at a game.

I witnessed some intense verbal abuse dished out by a Top 25 team's fans to our back up third baseman last year.  It was merciless.  My son was pitching and said his teammate was inconsolable throughout the game.  He and his teammates really didn't know what to do...they had never experienced such extreme behavior before by "fans".

That kid quit the team at the end of last year.

I'm not sure how this heckling has a place in college baseball.  Alcohol infused knuckleheads ragging on a back up for three innings.  Congratulations.

Cheer for your team.  Does it make you more of a man to ridicule somebody else?  Do you think it toughens a kid up to be hassled for hours??  I guess having fun at someone's expense is ok.

In my son's first year of varsity as a sophomore he was being heckled by two older guys down the RF line. They appeared to have been in their early 20's, and little did they know that the 16 year old's dad was standing 50ft from them.  It took everything I had to keep my mouth shut & not walk over to them.  Our First Base coach heard the two clowns, and walked out towards them in between innings to shut them up.  Later that game, my son hit a 3 run opposite field HR to RF in the 6th that was the icing on the cake.  I asked my son that evening if those guys were bothering him, and he said no, it was actually fun.  I think it was tougher on me that day?

As for getting heckled in college?  I hope he gets every opportunity to get heckled this year!  Because...that would mean that his hard work has paid off and he'll be on the bump pitching again after some injury riddled seasons.