"Wow, this is crazy," Thomas Betz said as reporters surrounded him Wednesday night outside the 24th Police District Headquarters after he was released from jail for the stunt he pulled Tuesday night.
Police say Betz, of Warminster, Pa., hopped over the left field fence at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and ran along the warning track in the top of the ninth inning Tuesday, one day after a teenager ran onto the field and was Tasered.
"First off, let's start off by apoliogizing to the Phillies organization, friends and family," Betz said.
The apology to the ball club came after police say Betz struck out himself.
Strike one occurred when police say Betz posted on his Twitter account he was going to jump on the field. Strike two came when he made his appearance as the Phillies were winning 1-0 and Cole Hamels was pitching a masterpiece three-hitter. Strike three being police say he had drugs in his pocket which landed him in jail for 24 hours.
Upon his performance on the field, Betz says, "I just wanted to go out there and basically prove that, at least in my case, you don't need to Tase anybody or do anything like that to subdue a fan in the position I was in."
Betz told Action News he was trying to make a point.
The crowd booed and some chanted "Tase him!" Betz was taken off the field without incident.
The encore has fans irritated.
"I think they need to get it under control. It's out of hand. If they don't do something to send a message, it's going to continue to happen," said Bill O'Shea of Garnet Valley.
"There's no room for that in the game. When you come to the game, enjoy yourself, said Byron Johnson of South Philadelphia.
On Monday night, 17-year-old Steve Consalvi ran onto the field, waving a towel and eluding security, when a Philadelphia police officer gave him a jolt from his Taser. He hit the ground and was taken into custody.
On Wednesday, the Phillies announced a decision on field security in these types of situations.
Phillies team security will apprehend fans who jump on the field, unless more force is deemed necessary, the team announced.
The team said it made the decision in consultation with the Philadelphia Police Department.
"In ordinary circumstances involving field intrusion, the Phillies game day security personnel will make the apprehension of the field jumper and turn him over to the Philadelphia Police on the field for handcuffing and subsequent charging," the team said in a statement.
Police officers will be called upon, the team said, only if more force is necessary.
After two incidents in as many nights, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says enough is enough.
"Realize what this is doing, not only ruining the game but the image of the city, and start to behave in an appropriate way," Ramsey said. "This kind of conduct is unacceptable."
Officers didn't run on the field Tuesday.
Betz has been arrested three times before for marijuana possession, in incidents going back to 1998, when he was 22 years old. Betz plead guilty all three times.
One his Betz's neighbors, Charles Chase, says he can't figure it out.
"Who runs onto the field during a baseball game and doesn't give the pot he had on him to his friend before he jumps the fence? I don't get it."
Gov. Ed Rendell and others questioned whether police officers should be using Tasers on unruly fans on the field, but numerous players and fans defended the officers actions, saying they were appropriate.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
