When did it become a rule to give nearest kid caught foul ball?

[castleview]

So the huge news this morning is that a Texas Ranger threw a baseball into the stands. The ball was caught by a woman, but the kid two seats down started crying. Meanwhile, the Yankees announcer chastised this couple as if they were bragging robbers. I'm not seeing that - if they reached in front of the kid or took it out of his hands, I get it. But this looks pretty fair.

I haven't been to a ball game in a long time, but from what I remember whoever catches the foul ball is the lucky winner. The only time I saw a fan who should have given the way a ball was when some poor man got hit in the face and the ball ricocheted off his face into the hands of someone else.

Thoughts? Am I a child hater?


http://content.usatoday.com/communi...all-from-child-at-rangers-game/1#.T5mCau2Hd0M

 

[Lots-o-Huggin]

I haven't been to a ball game in a long time, but from what I remember whoever catches the foul ball is the lucky winner. The only time I saw a fan who should have given the way a ball was when some poor man got hit in the face and the ball ricocheted off his face into the hands of someone else.

Who says the guy who got hit in the face deserved the ball? If he could catch, he'd have a ball and no smashed face. Bad warrior.

 

[castleview]

Who says the guy who got hit in the face deserved the ball? If he could catch, he'd have a ball and no smashed face. Bad warrior.

It was bad. Right in the nose and the ball still bounced off of him and went down two sections. When they took him out with blood pouring out of his face, it would have been a nice gesture. Albeit, the last thing on his mind.

 

[luvmy3]

If it were my kid crying I would have told him "thats what you get for not diving for it"
Seriously, this is ridiculous. First of all if the player was the one to toss it, how about chastising him for not tossing it to the child. (Not that I really think that, just an observation that this is all falling on the couple who caught it).
Second, That's life, deal with it.

 

[declansdad]

The kid was what 3? He would get over it in an inning. Did look like it was thrown to the kid, just into the crowd.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I'd say yes, its become the rule, and its fueled by beer-induced spite. Parents totally understand that the catcher gets to keep it. But usually the loudest drunk in the crowd will start chanting give-it-to-the-kid. Unless its a special ball with huge value, then the heckling will go on until s/he gives it to the kid. Then you get cheered and that drunk probably buys you a beer.

 

[Lots-o-Huggin]

After watching the video, I don't like the couple who caught it. Life happens and babies cry, but that lady's reaction seems a bit like rubbing it in.

 

[Thumper_Man]

I saw this today. It's hard to tell if the player was throwing it to the kid or not. If that was his intention, then the ball should've gone to him. We'll never really know though. Plus I don't think it's so much as they didn't give the kid the ball, but the way they flaunted it after. You can see they knew the kid was crying and it was like they were rubbing it in. That IMO is what made this completely wrong.

 

[luvmy3]

After watching the video, I don't like the couple who caught it. Life happens and babies cry, but that lady's reaction seems a bit like rubbing it in.

I didn't get that impression at all.

 

[Lots-o-Huggin]

I didn't get that impression at all.

It was her posing holding up the ball while looking at the kid that gave me that impression.

 

[ols386]

If it were my kid crying I would have told him "thats what you get for not diving for it"
Seriously, this is ridiculous. First of all if the player was the one to toss it, how about chastising him for not tossing it to the child. (Not that I really think that, just an observation that this is all falling on the couple who caught it).
Second, That's life, deal with it.

Agree.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

There's no rule that says they have to. Obviously, they were allowed to keep the ball. But there is also no rule that says we can't think them a couple of jerks for not doing it and then flaunting it in front of the kid either.

 

[ols386]

It was her posing holding up the ball while looking at the kid that gave me that impression.

Well, some adults act like children.

 

[luvmy3]

It was her posing holding up the ball while looking at the kid that gave me that impression.

Did she stick her tongue out at him?

She caught the ball, she was happy about it. The kid made enough of a spectacle to be filmed and talked about. Everyone was looking at him.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Who says the guy who got hit in the face deserved the ball? If he could catch, he'd have a ball and no smashed face. Bad warrior.

Doesn't necessarily mean he can't catch. Most people that go to the games don't take a glove to catch foul balls. Trying to catch a ball coming at you pretty fast, with your bare hands, is not easy. I've seen balls come at people as they were coming down the stairs with food and drinks in their hands. Can't really catch a ball that way now can you. DW got hit with a ball one time. Took a hop off the base and redirected right towards her. She got her arm up in time, but it got sprained in the process. You just never know. And for the record, she didn't get the ball, but I felt she should have.

 

[marmalade]

If it were me who caught the ball and saw that little boy crying, I'd be the sucker who would give it to him.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I don't think the couple looks like they are rubbing it in. She shows it briefly to her husband and the people behind her--it is not like she waved it in front of the kid or anything.

It looks like the parents were trying to calm the kid down and not asking for anything. It also looks very possible that the boy was more scared by the jumping around his dad did trying to catch the ball while holding him than upset by not getting the ball (though either way I do not see why anyone should have to give him the ball).

I think the announcer was a jerk to say that and that the couple who had the ball did nothing wrong.

 

[castleview]

I don't think the couple looks like they are rubbing it in. She shows it briefly to her husband and the people behind her--it is not like she waved it in front of the kid or anything.

It looks like the parents were trying to calm the kid down and not asking for anything. It also looks very possible that the boy was more scared by the jumping around his dad did trying to catch the ball while holding him than upset by not getting the ball (though either way I do not see why anyone should have to give him the ball).

I think the announcer was a jerk to say that and that the couple who had the ball did nothing wrong.

Thank you!

 

[ILoveToRun]

Kids aren't the only ones who want, or deserve, special things. I think whoever gets it, keeps it, or can choose to do as they wish with it. I'd have kept it and proceed to flip anyone off who would angrily tell me otherwise.

Also, when special things happen to people, they should be allowed to be happy about it and celebrate it.

 

[Metsfan520]

One time my older brother was at a minor league game in Richmond VA. He was with some co-workers. He caught a foul ball and was planning to bring it home to his daughter. So when people in the crowd hassled him, he just ignored them.