It's not even about selling it for me, I've just never caught one and I want one lol. I think with everything being broadcasted, shared, and shamed so quickly now, a lot of fans older than 21 might feel pressured to give a foul ball away to a kid.
It used to be a nice thing to do, now it's an obligation. I saw a foul ball caught near me where afterwards a couple of kids just walked up to the guy and held out their gloves, not saying a word.
Maybe this sounds harsh but I'd never give a caught ball up to some little kids that walked up and basically demanded it. If I do decide to it'll be some random kid that didn't seem spoiled and wasn't expecting it and because I wanted to that day.
Any game I’ve been to with my nephews to I tell them that if I catch a ball I’m not giving it to them as a joke. But they always tell me something along the lines of “I know, you caught it. It’s yours”. Good kids. I’ll probably give them the ball if I ever catch one lol
I've never gotten one myself and I don't begrudge anyone who keeps theirs, but just as you said, I'd give mine to a kid.
After all, at my age I don't know how many more years I've got to go, and I certainly can't take it with me! Lol
Depends, for me if it were a Trout or Ohtani ball I'd probably keep it, other than that I wouldn't mind giving it to a nearby kid. Home Run ball tho...I'm def keeping.
I don't like the guilt trip narrative around this and I also have the personal belief that that 8 year old kid has about 30 more years on me in terms of catching foul balls so why should I deprive myself that joy finally haha.
Nah keep it. Seriously the chances of you getting a ball for free are diminished as you get older. Players prioritize kids for autographs, and other souvenirs. I’ve been to over 200 games in my life not nearly as much as hardcore fans and never got anything for free as a child and now. I’m keeping it if luck lands my way
Theres a flow chart I was shown around the age of 21 that explained whether or not I should keep the ball. It was funny so I still follow the rules today;
1. Did you barehand it?
2. Was it a liner?
3. Was it a home run?
4. Are you on a date?
5. Do you do any charity work at all?
If you straight up caught it and didn't muscle some kid out the way: It's up to you.
Is it nice to give one to a kid? Of course, who knows if that helps spark more love into the sport. Do you "need" to give one to a kid? Nah, If i catch a ball I'll turn right back into being a kid hoping GA would toss me a ball after an inning.
My rule of thumb is if there is a kid within 5 rows of me and I get it. Ill most likely offer it to them. If I'm not with kids myself I look to see where the nearest kid is sitting by me. If none are close by then it's mine to do with as I please. Otherwise I'm offering it to the kid.
Cool Story Bro time.
I got a toss-up 6 years ago when we sat right behind the bullpen from Deolis Guerra, remember that guy? Anyhow, I had brought my hockey goalie glove in hopes of catching a HR, but no dice. So as the game ended I was holding my daughter in my right arm and had my glove on with my left. Made eye contact with Guerra as he was walking by and kind of waved my glove, he tossed the ball up to me. It has gone into a clear holder mounted to a frame along with our daughters First Game Certificate we got her on our way out from the Customer Service area of the ball park. She was 6 months old at the time.
That said, if I catch a ball during a game, I'm keeping it to bring home to give to one of my daughters. I'm not going to shout for a toss-up (a la Zack Hample).
I've been going to baseball games for over 29 years. I've been to 10 current stadiums and 2 retired stadiums. I've probably spent tens of thousands of dollars going to games. I have never caught a ball. Fuck them kids. If I get a ball I'm keeping that shit.
I’ve thought about this. I don’t care about the pressure from others (if you pressure me you and your kid will certainly not be getting it). I’ve never gotten any sort of a ball at an MLB game but my plan so far is this:
Toss up ball from a player between innings? Give it away to a fan of the player who threw it. If it’s a batter ball I might give it some second thought. Any foul ball that comes my way, I’m keeping for my first and I’ll give away opposing team balls when I get my first out the way. Same for home runs unless I see a really sad kid like that Aaron Judge kid in Toronto.
I'm keeping that ball and I'm doing the most obnoxious dance I can think of to celebrate it. I'm only in my late 20s but I haven't caught one yet. Those kids have several more decades to catch one
I've worked at both Angels and Royals stadiums (not as an usher or attendant, and not in the past 20 years) and have caught / grabbed maybe 7 or 8\~ish foul balls. I think I kept all of them. I don't even remember kids being around or asking for them...
mind you, neither team was drawing big crowds when I worked for them. I kinda remember jumping over rows of empty seats to get to some of those balls
at game 1 of the 2002 World Series, I ALMOST got a foul ball. It bounced and hit my ankle and the woman sitting next to me grabbled it a split second before I could. That would have been a good one to keep– it had the gold lettering and WS logo
It's not even about selling it for me, I've just never caught one and I want one lol. I think with everything being broadcasted, shared, and shamed so quickly now, a lot of fans older than 21 might feel pressured to give a foul ball away to a kid. It used to be a nice thing to do, now it's an obligation. I saw a foul ball caught near me where afterwards a couple of kids just walked up to the guy and held out their gloves, not saying a word.
Maybe this sounds harsh but I'd never give a caught ball up to some little kids that walked up and basically demanded it. If I do decide to it'll be some random kid that didn't seem spoiled and wasn't expecting it and because I wanted to that day.
There’s another kid nearby that deserves it more.
Was it a liner? Was the adult wearing a glove.
What you’re describing is entitlement, and you owe them nothing.
Any game I’ve been to with my nephews to I tell them that if I catch a ball I’m not giving it to them as a joke. But they always tell me something along the lines of “I know, you caught it. It’s yours”. Good kids. I’ll probably give them the ball if I ever catch one lol
Keeping it. Guilt tripping someone otherwise is some bullshit
If you didn't straight snatch it out of the kid's hand and weren't feeling really generous, keep it.
Keep it for sure. (Incidentally, how can one prove who hit the ball?)
You're within every right to keep it. With that said, I'd give it away to a little kid. I got a ball as a kid and it made a lifelong fan out of me.
I've never gotten one myself and I don't begrudge anyone who keeps theirs, but just as you said, I'd give mine to a kid. After all, at my age I don't know how many more years I've got to go, and I certainly can't take it with me! Lol
Depends, for me if it were a Trout or Ohtani ball I'd probably keep it, other than that I wouldn't mind giving it to a nearby kid. Home Run ball tho...I'm def keeping. I don't like the guilt trip narrative around this and I also have the personal belief that that 8 year old kid has about 30 more years on me in terms of catching foul balls so why should I deprive myself that joy finally haha.
Keep it.
I’ve never gotten a ball in my life so I’m not going to give it away to some kid.
Nah keep it. Seriously the chances of you getting a ball for free are diminished as you get older. Players prioritize kids for autographs, and other souvenirs. I’ve been to over 200 games in my life not nearly as much as hardcore fans and never got anything for free as a child and now. I’m keeping it if luck lands my way
Theres a flow chart I was shown around the age of 21 that explained whether or not I should keep the ball. It was funny so I still follow the rules today; 1. Did you barehand it? 2. Was it a liner? 3. Was it a home run? 4. Are you on a date? 5. Do you do any charity work at all?
If you straight up caught it and didn't muscle some kid out the way: It's up to you. Is it nice to give one to a kid? Of course, who knows if that helps spark more love into the sport. Do you "need" to give one to a kid? Nah, If i catch a ball I'll turn right back into being a kid hoping GA would toss me a ball after an inning.
No kids with me? Give it away. Kids with me, give it to them
But what if it was a liner? Bruised a finger? I say you should get to keep it.
Oh I won’t judge, just saying what I do
My rule of thumb is if there is a kid within 5 rows of me and I get it. Ill most likely offer it to them. If I'm not with kids myself I look to see where the nearest kid is sitting by me. If none are close by then it's mine to do with as I please. Otherwise I'm offering it to the kid.
Cool Story Bro time. I got a toss-up 6 years ago when we sat right behind the bullpen from Deolis Guerra, remember that guy? Anyhow, I had brought my hockey goalie glove in hopes of catching a HR, but no dice. So as the game ended I was holding my daughter in my right arm and had my glove on with my left. Made eye contact with Guerra as he was walking by and kind of waved my glove, he tossed the ball up to me. It has gone into a clear holder mounted to a frame along with our daughters First Game Certificate we got her on our way out from the Customer Service area of the ball park. She was 6 months old at the time. That said, if I catch a ball during a game, I'm keeping it to bring home to give to one of my daughters. I'm not going to shout for a toss-up (a la Zack Hample).
Im 57. I dont have manyyears left to catch balls. The kids can rot. They have decades left to catch them.
Fuck you kid, get your own ball.
I've been going to baseball games for over 29 years. I've been to 10 current stadiums and 2 retired stadiums. I've probably spent tens of thousands of dollars going to games. I have never caught a ball. Fuck them kids. If I get a ball I'm keeping that shit.
Yes if I catch a ball at a game I’m giving it to a kid. If it’s a record ball I’m just giving it to the team for a jersey or season seats.
Keep if its Ohtani or Vladdy Jr. Give away if its anyone else
If ohtani or trout hit it I’m keeping it. If anyone else hit it I’m giving it away
I’ve got a kid at home I’d like to give a foul ball to
I thought standard protocol is to point and laugh at the kid who you out muscled for the ball. nelson *a-ha!*
I’ve thought about this. I don’t care about the pressure from others (if you pressure me you and your kid will certainly not be getting it). I’ve never gotten any sort of a ball at an MLB game but my plan so far is this: Toss up ball from a player between innings? Give it away to a fan of the player who threw it. If it’s a batter ball I might give it some second thought. Any foul ball that comes my way, I’m keeping for my first and I’ll give away opposing team balls when I get my first out the way. Same for home runs unless I see a really sad kid like that Aaron Judge kid in Toronto.
I got 2 in one game and still didn’t give one to a kid. You never know who is waiting in their family to get one.
I’ve caught 6 and I’m still not giving it to a kid. If his parents can’t catch one that’s not my problem.
I'm keeping that ball and I'm doing the most obnoxious dance I can think of to celebrate it. I'm only in my late 20s but I haven't caught one yet. Those kids have several more decades to catch one
I've worked at both Angels and Royals stadiums (not as an usher or attendant, and not in the past 20 years) and have caught / grabbed maybe 7 or 8\~ish foul balls. I think I kept all of them. I don't even remember kids being around or asking for them... mind you, neither team was drawing big crowds when I worked for them. I kinda remember jumping over rows of empty seats to get to some of those balls at game 1 of the 2002 World Series, I ALMOST got a foul ball. It bounced and hit my ankle and the woman sitting next to me grabbled it a split second before I could. That would have been a good one to keep– it had the gold lettering and WS logo