Tuesday, September 2, 1997
Fan breaks ribs in fall

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The Cincinnati Enquirer

Curtis Staker, 44, falls from the first row of the right field seats. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

Curtis Staker, 44, suffered broken ribs when he fell 15 feet off the first deck in right field Monday afternoon,

A resident of Loveland, Staker was in good condition at Good Samaritan Hospital, and doctors expected a full recovery, according to the Reds.

Staker, who attended the game with his two sons, lurched over the rail to backhand Eddie Taubensee's home run, lost his balance and grabbed the top bar for an instant. He lost his grip and fell backward, landing on the concrete behind the right-field fence.

"He caught it at the palm (of the glove)," said John Robinson, who sat near Staker, "and all of a sudden he just disappeared."

Deion Sanders, who wasn't playing, left the Reds' bench and knelt by Staker while rescuers responded.

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