OT do you have to give the ball to a kid?

[Scoe]

I went to a Yankees game on Saturday, and Juan Soto tosses a ball into the rf stands a kid I'd say 18-20 years old grabs it right at his seats. About 2 kids I'd say ages 8-12 go after the ball and just run back to their seats they're not even upset they didn't get a ball.

The 18ish year old kid keeps the ball, after being yelled at to give the ball to a kid. Now he's being called an a hole and shouted all kinds of obscenities for not giving up the ball who's the really worse person in this situation now, it's not like he jumped over a kid and stole a ball or there was a crying kid. A part of me wanted to yell to keep the ball just to go against the grain, but I figured I better not risk getting into a confrontation people are crazy these days.

I would probably cave in and give the ball to a kid, I would hold the ball up for a good 10 seconds and just hold the ball behind my back and let a kid grab it.

 

[Kemba'sYogurt]

MLB Groundskeeper here, I always try to throw balls to kids or a family. Someone 18-20 getting a ball and not giving it to a kid is a lot different than a 45-50 year old guy there alone, in my opinion.

 

[InTheRed]

Sounds like the kids were brought up right not to expect that they should get everything they want. It should be completely up to the kid who got it. Maybe he has a 10 year old brother at home in the hospital he wanted to give it to. People are nasty for the sake of being nasty sometimes.

 

[Jaydumo20]

MLB Groundskeeper here, I always try to throw balls to kids or a family. Someone 18-20 getting a ball and not giving it to a kid is a lot different than a 45-50 year old guy there alone, in my opinion.

Coolest job on the BY without even knowing what everybody else does for a living.

But...I say you always give it to a kid if you're in high school or older.
For 2 reasons:
1) it'll mean more to the kid
2) the good deed will last longer than the joy of the ball, which will sit in your attic after 1 year. (unless it's a record breaking ball worth thousands)

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

MLB Groundskeeper here

That's pretty cool.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

MLB Groundskeeper here.

How’s your YMCA?

But seriously, coolest job on the Boneyard.

Hmm, I mean give it to the kid, but sounds like at his age it’s a coin flip. When I was in college, I caught a puck at a UConn hockey game and didn’t even think about giving it to anyone. It’s one of my sports favorite keepsakes. Does that make me an ? I don’t think so, but nowadays I’d give it to a kid.

 

[DCHuskyFan]

That would suck if you went your whole life wanting to catch and keep a foul ball and had to give it up solely because of your advanced age. I’ll just bring my daughters to the games and give it to them, to hold for me until the end of the game

 

[Scoe]

Sounds like the kids were brought up right not to expect that they should get everything they want. It should be completely up to the kid who got it. Maybe he has a 10 year old brother at home in the hospital he wanted to give it to. People are nasty for the sake of being nasty sometimes.

Some of the give ball to a kid crowd could less if your stranded on the highway in a ditch with your car on fire.

 

[Waquoit]

I say no. I've been trying for decades and if I finally get one I'm keeping it.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

But seriously, coolest job on the Boneyard.

I don’t know, we’ve got a lot of lawyers!

 

[Scoe]

As a 41 year old should I give the ball to a high school kid, I say no their adults now.

Now at a concert im 1,000 percent keeping a drumstick, I did get my finger on a Lars drumstick deflected the path of it went to the ground near my feet and 2 girls dive at it.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I went to a Yankees game on Saturday, and Juan Soto tosses a ball into the rf stands a kid I'd say 18-20 years old grabs it right at his seats. About 2 kids I'd say ages 8-12 go after the ball and just run back to their seats they're not even upset they didn't get a ball.

The 18ish year old kid keeps the ball, after being yelled at to give the ball to a kid. Now he's being called an a hole and shouted all kinds of obscenities for not giving up the ball who's the really worse person in this situation now, it's not like he jumped over a kid and stole a ball or there was a crying kid. A part of me wanted to yell to keep the ball just to go against the grain, but I figured I better not risk getting into a confrontation people are crazy these days.

I would probably cave in and give the ball to a kid, I would hold the ball up for a good 10 seconds and just hold the ball behind my back and let a kid grab it.

I don't know the rule, but here's my theory. If you ever got a ball before, whether tossed or foul or a home run, give the ball to the kid. If not, then hell no, you're deserving to get a ball once in your life and those kids have more years than you do to get one.

 

[upstater]

I bring a little kid with me to every game, even if it's not mine, maybe a neighbor's kid, for this very reason. I've been waiting decades for a ball... if I get one I'll give it to the prop kid and no one will drag me all over the internet like that famous lady.

 

[donyell34]

I don’t know, we’ve got a lot of lawyers!

But only one MLB groundskeeper. I'm going with that.

 

[Chin Diesel]

8-12 years old is on the cusp of suck it up buttercup age. A 4-6 year old? Sure, you give it to the kid (with the caveat of you have someone not at the game who would value it).
18-22 years old and you still deserve some decent freebies under the condition described- you didn't trample anyone or jump over anyone to get it.
Pro move would have been to see if those 8-12 year old kids were accompanied by a 3rdbass who is on the prowl at the ball game.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Whatever you choose to do, you'll never be as smooth as the GOAT. Gets the ball, keeps it, but gives a decoy ball he had to the much older attractive young woman behind him. Kid has game.

 

[David54]

If Soto or any player is throwing a ball into the stands his intention is for a kid to have the ball. I think that’s s what the crowd is reacting to. If a guy catches and keeps a hit ball no one would object.

 

[VAHuskyFan]

As an adult, you can keep a ball (vs handing to a nearby kid) if:

(1) It’s a batted ball,
(2) you catch it in the air,
(3) you catch it with your hands.

Congrats, nice catch!

If you pocket a freebie thrown into the stands, if you’re scrambling around on the ground to grab a foul before a kid can get it, or if you’re a grown-ass adult that brought a glove to the ballpark, expect some derision.

 

[bfs3]

I remember years ago trying to grab a ball between the seats at a Waterbury Spirit game and an old man grabbed it like it was his last chance. He told another kid “get your own ball, I’ve been waiting a long time for this.” I probably would have lost it by now and for all I know he was buried clutching that ball. I don’t think it’s fair to assume it would mean more to a kid who had it handed to him by a stranger. Giving a ball away might be a nice thing to do but it shouldn’t be expected. It could end i
up going to a brother or sister at home as another poster mentioned.

Home run or player hit foul ball? I’ll take my 24 hour internet shaming.

 

[temery]

If you are a grown ass adult and you jump in front of a kid to catch a ball, yeah, you should give it to the kid.

 

[Improviser]

Time for Jay Leno to interview fans at the park as they enter or during a game, and ask what they would do.

I've seen some of his on the street interviews and IMO, he would do okay with this one too.

 

[JohnFSilver]

MLB Groundskeeper here, I always try to throw balls to kids or a family. Someone 18-20 getting a ball and not giving it to a kid is a lot different than a 45-50 year old guy there alone, in my opinion.

A 45-50 year old guy is a specific range. LOL. If you are 51 you are old and can keep the ball?

IN all seriousness. Sexism and ageism applies. An adult age man can't keep the ball from a kid.

18 year old? Give the ball to a kid.

 

[Chin Diesel]

A 45-50 year old guy is a specific range. LOL. If you are 51 you are old and can keep the ball?

IN all seriousness. Sexism and ageism applies. An adult age man can't keep the ball from a kid.

18 year old? Give the ball to a kid.

In the TV era, the ultimate move as an adult male is to make the catch, hold it up for everyone to see it on TV, and then hand it off to a kid.
You forever have your digital glory and a kid gets to take a baseball home.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Whatever you choose to do, you'll never be as smooth as the GOAT. Gets the ball, keeps it, but gives a decoy ball he had to the much older attractive young woman behind him. Kid has game.

I was waiting for someone to post this. Funny on a couple of different levels.

 

[husky99]

Always toss to the kid. 100x out of 100