Former MLB SS Offerman AWOL from trial (Video)
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Offerman has a temper, to say the least. Back in 2007 during a comeback bid, Offerman was hit by a pitch while playing with the Long Island Ducks. Everyday occurrence in baseball, right?
Well, it didn’t end there. Offerman charged Bridgeport Bluefish pitcher Matt Beech – with bat in hand – and began swinging. He broke the middle finger on Beech’s non-throwing hand and Bluefish catcher John Nathans suffered a head injury that is described as a career ender.
Offerman was charged with felony assault as a result, and was sentenced to a probation program which eventually led to the charges being dismissed, according to a report from Dave Collins of the Associated Press.
Nathans sued Offerman for $4.8 million in 2009 – and the case remains pending in federal court in Bridgeport.
According to the report from the AP, Offerman is nowhere to be found.
"As a federal lawsuit over the attack heads to trial, the attorney for the journeyman catcher whose career was ended with a swing of Offerman’s bat doesn’t know where the two-time All-Star is – and doesn’t expect him to show up for court.J. Craig Smith, the attorney for former Bridgeport Bluefins catcher John Nathans, tried to serve Offerman with discovery documents in recent months, with no success.“It’s been so difficult for me to track him down,” Smith said. “I certainly don’t expect Offerman to show up at court.”"
Here is a frame-by-frame video of the attack via YouTube:
Here is a video of Offerman punching an ump in the Dominican winter league in 2010, an outburst that got him banned for life – which has since been rescinded.
So it has been a rough patch for Offerman lately as you can see. Here is to hoping everything gets resolved amicably for all parties. Offerman is said to live in the Dominican Republic – his native country – and will most likely not show for the trial. He hit .273 over 15 seasons and was selected to the MLB All Star game in 1995 and 1999 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox, respectively.