Linda Goldbloom is identified as the individual fatally struck in the head by a foul ball while attending baseball match at Los Angeles Dodger Stadium.
A 79 year old woman died after being struck by a foul ball at Dodger Stadium last August, according to a coroner’s report obtained by ESPN.
Linda Goldbloom was celebrating 59th wedding anniversary to her husband at the Los Angeles game August 25 on the day of her death.
A ball hit by a San Diego’s Franmil Reyes traveled over an area protected by netting and struck Goldbloom in the head.
She died four days later at L.A. County-USC Medical Center.
The Los Angeles County coroner’s report said ‘acute intracranial hemorrhage due to history of blunt force trauma’ from the batted ball was the cause of death.
‘Ushers came down and asked if she was all right, and she said no, then EMT came and rushed her to the hospital – she threw up in the ambulance,’ Goldbloom’s daughter, Jana Brody said.
Goldbloom underwent emergency brain surgery and was in an unresponsive state on a ventilator for three days until her death.
The moment the foul ball flew in the stands was never televised, and no media outlet reported Goldbloom’s injury.
The Dodgers never released a public statement in the five months since her death, until contacted by OTL Monday.
LA Dodgers release statement following Linda Goldbloom death:
In a statement released to ESPN, the Dodgers said they are ‘deeply saddened’ by Goldbloom’s death and the ‘matter has been resolved between the Dodgers and the Goldbloom family.’
Continued the statement, ‘Mr. and Mrs. Goldbloom were great Dodgers fans who regularly attended games. We were deeply saddened by this tragic accident and the passing of Mrs. Goldbloom. The matter has been resolved between the Dodgers and the Goldbloom family. We cannot comment further on this matter.’
According to ESPN, Brody said she would not comment on the agreement or possible legal action between the Dodgers and the family.
MLB in 2015 released the results of a study that recommended teams increase the area covered by protective netting or barrier to that within 70 feet of home plate.
That came after a young fan was hospitalized in 2017 after she was hit by a foul ball at Yankee Stadium.
For the first time last season, all 30 major league ballparks had expanded protective netting that reached to at least the far ends of each dugout.
The push for expansion increased in 2017 after a series of spectator injuries.
‘I’d love to see the netting extended vertically, and we know it doesn’t block the view,’ Brody said. ‘Raise it a little higher, what’s the hurt in that?’
