At a MLB game, is it rude to ask a fan who catches a foul or home run ball if you can have the ball?

Question

Why or why not?

At a MLB game, is it rude to ask a fan who catches a foul or home run ball if you can have the ball?

Answer 1

WhiteSteve | 154 opinions shared on Sports topic.

Master

I believe adult men are bound to a strict code in this area. If a guy catches a foul ball you either A) give it to your date; B) give it to a little kid; or C) give it to the nearest lady, unless you have a little kid at home who would be heartbroken if you gave it away. But all of these rules are trumped if the ball is anything commemorative for the player who hit it, some record breaking home run, or like some guy’s 3,000th hit comes on a ground-rule double. Those balls go back to the player, for free, you don’t hold it hostage for a reward. But that’s obviously a rare occurrence, usually A-C apply.

So, I don’t know... I’d maybe think it was a little weird of someone to actually ask for it, it’s more up to the person who caught the ball to choose someone to give it to.

Breanna_nonbinary

9 mo
Sorry. I did see a copy of code anywhere at the ballpark. And I doubt that many people have either.
Also I beg to differ about it being a commemorative ball that you give back. I seem to remember lots of record breaking balls being sold and very few being given back to a player.
WhiteSteve

9 mo
Haha, there’s no written code, that’s just what I believe to be proper.

And yes, many people have sold commemorative balls for profit, I just think it’s a much classier move to contact the player through the team and offer him his memorabilia, for free. And they’ll probably throw you a couple tickets to another game for it anyway. I just think “scumbag” when I hear somebody demanding money for a baseball or whatever.

Anyhow, you COULD ask someone for a ball, but I just think that would be unusual, and you may be shot down and put in an embarrassing situation, that’s all I was saying.
MrOracle

9 mo
Steve and I are in agreement on this issue.
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WhiteSteve

9 mo
@MrOracle The “unwritten rules” of baseball sometimes extend to the fans too, haha
MrOracle

9 mo
It's kind of an extension of "good sportsmanship", and, yes, it applies to people beyond those out on the field too.

Answer 2

Breanna_nonbinary

Sorry. I did see a copy of code anywhere at the ballpark. And I doubt that many people have either.
Also I beg to differ about it being a commemorative ball that you give back. I seem to remember lots of record breaking balls being sold and very few being given back to a player.

Answer 3

WhiteSteve

Haha, there’s no written code, that’s just what I believe to be proper.

And yes, many people have sold commemorative balls for profit, I just think it’s a much classier move to contact the player through the team and offer him his memorabilia, for free. And they’ll probably throw you a couple tickets to another game for it anyway. I just think “scumbag” when I hear somebody demanding money for a baseball or whatever.

Anyhow, you COULD ask someone for a ball, but I just think that would be unusual, and you may be shot down and put in an embarrassing situation, that’s all I was saying.

Answer 4

MrOracle

Steve and I are in agreement on this issue.

Answer 5

WhiteSteve

@MrOracle The “unwritten rules” of baseball sometimes extend to the fans too, haha

Answer 6

MrOracle

It's kind of an extension of "good sportsmanship", and, yes, it applies to people beyond those out on the field too.

Answer 7

jgokgotit

Yoda

It is not rude, but it is custom that the fan that catches the ball keeps it. The exception is if a child asks for the ball.

Answer 8

Yads_Is_Back

Guru

I would say so. That's like holding the winning lottery ticket in your hand and somebody saying, "Hey, can I have that?"

Answer 9

Anonymous

If you are a child it is okay to ask for the ball; otherwise it is rude.

Breanna_nonbinary

9 mo
Why?
Opinion Owner

9 mo
Because you didn't catch the ball. Or if you are asking about the kids; it is to foster a love for the game in the youth. All true baseball fans are a nurturing bunch.
Breanna_nonbinary

9 mo
I’m all for nurturing. But if that were the case then MLB should give every kid a ball. Or better yet why not have the kid ask for cash?
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Opinion Owner

9 mo
There is a bit of a monetary restriction on giving every kid a ball. My local team lets kids run the bases after Sunday games for free; so that is a bit more reasonable cost to the ball club since they just have to staff the event.
Breanna_nonbinary

9 mo
Well the only time I caught a ball at a game 3 kids came up to me at the same time. All asked me to give them the ball. So if I had given it to one then two would have gone home disappointed.
Also as a parent how can you be ok with allowing your kid to go around begging for balls every time someone catches one near you?
Opinion Owner

9 mo
My philosophy is to give the ball to the youngest kid and if they look about the same age, the girl. I guess it is just baseball culture.

Answer 10

Breanna_nonbinary

Why?

Answer 11

Opinion Owner

Because you didn't catch the ball. Or if you are asking about the kids; it is to foster a love for the game in the youth. All true baseball fans are a nurturing bunch.

Answer 12

Breanna_nonbinary

I’m all for nurturing. But if that were the case then MLB should give every kid a ball. Or better yet why not have the kid ask for cash?

Answer 13

Opinion Owner

There is a bit of a monetary restriction on giving every kid a ball. My local team lets kids run the bases after Sunday games for free; so that is a bit more reasonable cost to the ball club since they just have to staff the event.

Answer 14

Breanna_nonbinary

Well the only time I caught a ball at a game 3 kids came up to me at the same time. All asked me to give them the ball. So if I had given it to one then two would have gone home disappointed.
Also as a parent how can you be ok with allowing your kid to go around begging for balls every time someone catches one near you?

Answer 15

Opinion Owner

My philosophy is to give the ball to the youngest kid and if they look about the same age, the girl. I guess it is just baseball culture.

Answer 16

Thatsamazing

Guru

Well... yeah kind of, since you aren't the one who caught it. You can offer to buy it from them, that's not rude. But it's rude to just expect it, yeah.

Answer 17

Iron_Man | 774 opinions shared on Sports topic.

Master

Yes it’s very rude I would never give my baseball ⚾️ to anybody. I’ve gotten tons of them at the University of Miami college baseball game

Answer 18

Anonymous

yeah I think it's rude to ask for things like that. It's up to the person who catches it to offer it to someone or not. But I freaking hate when i overhear parents telling their kids to go ask someone to give them the ball they just caught.

Answer 19

asshole_

Yoda

It's not rude but

As you get older, you should be giving them to young kids. It's the right thing to do

Breanna_nonbinary

9 mo
What the fuck? The right thing to do? Why is not rude?
asshole_

9 mo
Yeah the right thing

And it's not rude
Breanna_nonbinary

9 mo
I see so if someone at Disneyland is given a special treat a collectors pin, it isn’t rude for a kid to go up to that person and ask if they can have it? Is that the right thing to do?
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asshole_

9 mo
Nope

Why should an adult have something from disney anyway?

THEYRE AN ADULT
Breanna_nonbinary

9 mo
@asshole_ So apparently you’ve never been to Disneyland before. They do have a ton of merchandise for kids and yet they have even more for ADULTS. I doubt a kid is going to want Minnie Mouse oven mits or Shag art or adult size t-shirts.
asshole_

9 mo
Like I said

Answer 20

Breanna_nonbinary

What the fuck? The right thing to do? Why is not rude?

Answer 21

asshole_

Yeah the right thing

And it's not rude

Answer 22

Breanna_nonbinary

I see so if someone at Disneyland is given a special treat a collectors pin, it isn’t rude for a kid to go up to that person and ask if they can have it? Is that the right thing to do?

Answer 23

asshole_

Nope

Why should an adult have something from disney anyway?

THEYRE AN ADULT

Answer 24

Breanna_nonbinary

@asshole_ So apparently you’ve never been to Disneyland before. They do have a ton of merchandise for kids and yet they have even more for ADULTS. I doubt a kid is going to want Minnie Mouse oven mits or Shag art or adult size t-shirts.

Answer 25

asshole_

Like I said

Answer 26

MrCanada

Xper 5

Not rude but don’t expect them to give it to you. I know I wouldn’t. Lol.

Breanna_nonbinary

9 mo
Why is not rude. My parents would have slapped me for asking for something that’s not mine.
MrCanada

9 mo
Well you are asking and not taking right.
Breanna_nonbinary

9 mo
I’m asking because kids asked me once and I didn’t know that this was acceptable behavior.