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by **Madison** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 5:20 pm

Not too surprising, here's the story:

Royals fire bullpen coach Gamboa

September 29, 2003
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Tom Gamboa, who was attacked by two fans during a game in Chicago in 2002, was fired as Kansas City's bullpen coach less than two hours after the Royals finished the 2003 season.

``Tom is a good baseball person as you well know, but we felt the need to upgrade in that position,'' Royals general manager Allard Baird said after Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The Royals' bullpen had a cumulative ERA of 5.60 this season.

Gamboa was coaching first base in a game against the White Sox in September 2002 when a man and his 15-year-old son ran onto the field and beat him, leaving Gamboa with a loss of hearing.

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One year to the day later, Gamboa filed suit against the father -- William Ligue Jr. -- as well as the security firm and concessionaire at U.S. Cellular Field at the time of the attack. The lawsuit alleges that the concession company served alcohol to Ligue until he became drunk and that the security firm failed to keep him off the field.

Ligue was sentenced last month to 30 months on probation plus community service on two counts of aggravated battery. His son was sentenced to five years' probation and 30 hours of community service.

Gamboa, 55, was hired as the Royals' bullpen coach in October 2000 under then-manager Tony Muser, but spent 2002 as first-base coach before returning to the bullpen this season.

Baird said that a new bullpen coach would probably be chosen within a few days from within the Royals organization.

Updated on Monday, Sep 29, 2003 2