Hail Mary question: I have gotten one foul ball in my life - May 30, 1995 at the Jake. Looking for the video. (story time)
So I was a teenager and got a great ticket with a friend - my first time sitting behind home plate. Section 155. (and remember, these tickets were HOT in 1995). I had always been a Tribe fan and gone to tons of games, but always the cheap seats.
So we got to the game, and to this day I remember the event clearly. Baerga at the plate, Alex Fernandez on the mound. Baerga was hitting lefty, and on this swing the ball was a screamer striahgt back, just cleared the netting and in those days there was no net above the seats. The ball is basically a line drive straight at useveryone moves out of the way, and it hits under the seats directly behind me. I instinctively reached back without looking. The seat directly behind me is empty, so I am reaching in there, and the folks on either side are searching, and I can remember the total joy of the moment when my hand wraps around the ball, sight unseen. I whipped my hand back and had an absolute death grip on that ball. The crowd started cheering "give it to the kid, give it to the kid". Eff that noise - I was a damn kid anyhow.
Well, I cherished that ball, and still have it today. I have the ticket stub in perfect condition as well, as I wanted it with the ball.
The other day, I thought about looking up the details of that game, and I have been able to limit it specifically to the 6th inning. It would be fun for me to see that event, maybe even catch my younger self in the shot.
So the question is, is there a way to find that video? Either the whole game or just that inning? Should I maybe try to contact the team and plea my case?
Posted May 22, 2020, 5:02 PM UTC
Fuck that, I agree. I go to a lot of games and have come up with a policy of giving balls to kids.
If the ball is hit live into the stands, whoever gets the ball can keep it. Never fight or muscle a kid out of the way for it.
If the ball is tossed in to the stands, always give it to a kid. The only exception is if it's a live ball tossed in (balls tossed after innings end are often new ones not used in the game) and the game is significant (potential no hitter, playoff game, opening day).
When giving a ball away, find the quiet kid that is super dressed up. Never give it to the kid that begs. I sit in a section where a lot of balls come and there is a family with 2 boys. They're there every game and get probably 5 to 10 balls a game easy. Every one is handed to them or tossed in my a player. Thr players have noticed though and no longer toss them to my section as often. Lindor especially looks at the kids and throws it elsewhere. I love him for it.
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