Finders, Keeper? Not really.
Many boys dream of playing professional sports. Very few actually get a chance to do so. Hitting home runs are very special to players. Thus when a position player (or national league pitcher) hits his first home run, it’s a special moment. Players like to keep that ball as a memento of their accomplishment. Some guys will only hit one major league home run (and some will 1,220 at-bats to hit their first—and only—major league home run. See Tyner, Jason).
Ryan linked to this article earlier this week, but I thought it warranted further discussion.
Major League baseball has stated over and over again that fans are at their own risk at the ballpark. Balls and bats can come flying into the stands.
The article linked speak of the fan caught Matt Carlson’s first home run ball. Usually, fans will get autographed merchandise for returning the ball. A jersey, a bat, a ball—usually signed by the team or a few players. They can pretty much ask for something, and probably get it—within reason. For example, if the Twins were to call up minor league player Ben Revere, and he’d hit a home run, the fan could conceivably get a ball signed by Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. I’m willing to bet the fan could get tickets to another game, too, if desired.
This “fan” who caught Carson’s home run wanted $10,000. Contrast that to Frank Thomas’s 500th home run ball. The fan who caught it was a fan of the opposing team, because Thomas hit the home run in an opposing ballpark. The fan simply gave it back. He got some Blue Jays gear out of the deal, but it sounds like that wasn’t even asked for. He plans on selling the stuff, because he’s not a Blue Jays fan. That fan simply wanted to meet the player that hit it. That was enough for him.
Something to consider is that the obvious fact that Thomas has more money than Carson, who is a rookie. Yet, the fan who caught Thomas’s home run had little interest in his own gain from the catch. The “fan” who caught Carson’s home run—and it’s not clear whether he calls himself a fan of the A’s or not—only wants money from it. And not a token sum, either. In fact, technically, not even the value of the ball (if he were to try to sell it on ebay, it wouldn’t fetch that price).
What’s sad about the man in Oakland is that legally, he has no rights to the ball. Legally, Major League Baseball owns the ball. They bought the ball, therefore they own it. It’s part of their fan relations that they all fans to keep the ball when it’s hit in the stands. It’s a little souvenir for the fans. Etiquette says that foul balls hit into the stands are given to kids sitting nearby (I’m not sure about home runs). (I’m a little torn on this. I want to follow that rule, but I’ve never caught a foul ball in my life. I think it would be cool to keep one. On the other hand, it would be cool to make a kids’ day, too.)
At any rate, I would like to see MLB step in here and claim their ball back—which they could then award to the kid. The man who caught it, who could’ve gotten autographed merchandise—or merchandise at any rate—to sell, would end up with nothing. It would be a moral lesson that parents could teach their children about generosity and greediness. Todd Eisenlohr asked for nothing, and got something. John Doe sulkily demanded for more than he deserved, and got nothing.
To the jerk who has the ball, 28-year-old rookie Carson has one request: “Can you at least show it to my friends so they'll believe I'm actually in the major leagues?” That’s all the more he wants in life.
And, by the way, I love him for this statement: "Does he know who I am? Exactly—he shouldn't!" he exclaimed at a press conference following the game. "My mom doesn't even know I'm in the major leagues, and my dad still confuses me with my older brother at Thanksgiving dinner… To tell the truth, I'm pretty sure the ball was worth more before I hit it. I'm Matt Carson, for God's sake!"
I only wish I knew who he was. I’m sure that information is not being divulged in hopes a deal could be worked out with him, but I highly doubt it. Pretty much the guy has proven who he is, and it’s certainly not a nice guy. I hope any potential girlfriends of his are told this story, so they know exactly they type of guy he is.
Ryan linked to this article earlier this week, but I thought it warranted further discussion.
Major League baseball has stated over and over again that fans are at their own risk at the ballpark. Balls and bats can come flying into the stands.
The article linked speak of the fan caught Matt Carlson’s first home run ball. Usually, fans will get autographed merchandise for returning the ball. A jersey, a bat, a ball—usually signed by the team or a few players. They can pretty much ask for something, and probably get it—within reason. For example, if the Twins were to call up minor league player Ben Revere, and he’d hit a home run, the fan could conceivably get a ball signed by Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. I’m willing to bet the fan could get tickets to another game, too, if desired.
This “fan” who caught Carson’s home run wanted $10,000. Contrast that to Frank Thomas’s 500th home run ball. The fan who caught it was a fan of the opposing team, because Thomas hit the home run in an opposing ballpark. The fan simply gave it back. He got some Blue Jays gear out of the deal, but it sounds like that wasn’t even asked for. He plans on selling the stuff, because he’s not a Blue Jays fan. That fan simply wanted to meet the player that hit it. That was enough for him.
Something to consider is that the obvious fact that Thomas has more money than Carson, who is a rookie. Yet, the fan who caught Thomas’s home run had little interest in his own gain from the catch. The “fan” who caught Carson’s home run—and it’s not clear whether he calls himself a fan of the A’s or not—only wants money from it. And not a token sum, either. In fact, technically, not even the value of the ball (if he were to try to sell it on ebay, it wouldn’t fetch that price).
What’s sad about the man in Oakland is that legally, he has no rights to the ball. Legally, Major League Baseball owns the ball. They bought the ball, therefore they own it. It’s part of their fan relations that they all fans to keep the ball when it’s hit in the stands. It’s a little souvenir for the fans. Etiquette says that foul balls hit into the stands are given to kids sitting nearby (I’m not sure about home runs). (I’m a little torn on this. I want to follow that rule, but I’ve never caught a foul ball in my life. I think it would be cool to keep one. On the other hand, it would be cool to make a kids’ day, too.)
At any rate, I would like to see MLB step in here and claim their ball back—which they could then award to the kid. The man who caught it, who could’ve gotten autographed merchandise—or merchandise at any rate—to sell, would end up with nothing. It would be a moral lesson that parents could teach their children about generosity and greediness. Todd Eisenlohr asked for nothing, and got something. John Doe sulkily demanded for more than he deserved, and got nothing.
To the jerk who has the ball, 28-year-old rookie Carson has one request: “Can you at least show it to my friends so they'll believe I'm actually in the major leagues?” That’s all the more he wants in life.
And, by the way, I love him for this statement: "Does he know who I am? Exactly—he shouldn't!" he exclaimed at a press conference following the game. "My mom doesn't even know I'm in the major leagues, and my dad still confuses me with my older brother at Thanksgiving dinner… To tell the truth, I'm pretty sure the ball was worth more before I hit it. I'm Matt Carson, for God's sake!"
I only wish I knew who he was. I’m sure that information is not being divulged in hopes a deal could be worked out with him, but I highly doubt it. Pretty much the guy has proven who he is, and it’s certainly not a nice guy. I hope any potential girlfriends of his are told this story, so they know exactly they type of guy he is.
Labels: G-g-g-girl, Home run balls, Matt Carson
posted by thisisbeth | 10:51 AM
3 Comments:
Clearly, this "fan" is a jerk.
For what it's worth, I will probably never catch a foul ball or a home run, because catching a ball would involve me not ducking whenever a ball comes anywhere near my section.
I got my foul ball in 1997 at Comiskey Park. It was hit by Mariano Duncan, who was with the Blue Jays at the time. I'll tell you, it felt pretty awesome to get one.
Steve: I'm jealous!
Rachel: I assume I'll catch a ball like Cuddy's home run at Kauffman: it lands in the empty row behind me, and I'm able to pick it up. (Sadly, we were not able to pick it up, because it bounced too quickly for us to react, and the guys next to us got it.)
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