Man Snatches Home Run Ball from Girl's Hand in US... Faces Wave of Criticism After Broadcast Captures Incident

MLB Home Run Balls in the US
Can Be Worth Millions at Auction

During a Major League Baseball (MLB) game in the United States, an adult man intercepted a home run ball that had flown toward a young girl. After facing harsh criticism from spectators, the man eventually returned the ball to the child.

According to local North Carolina radio station WTSP on the 28th (local time), an MLB game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays took place the previous day at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

A man joyfully holding a home run ball taken from a girl. Screenshot from X

In the bottom of the fifth inning, a home run hit by Cleveland’s Daniel Schneemann flew into the stands. A man tried to catch the ball, but it bounced off his hand and landed next to a girl beside him.

When the girl tried to pick up the ball, the man quickly rushed over and snatched it from her hand.

However, this scene was clearly captured on the broadcast, sparking controversy. In particular, the cameras caught the girl on the verge of tears, and the man happily holding the home run ball and using his phone. The video quickly spread online, and netizens unleashed a flood of criticism toward the man.

In the United States, there is an unspoken etiquette that home run or foul balls caught in the stands are usually given to nearby children. The broadcasters covering the game at the time reportedly expressed their discomfort, saying, "Give the ball back." Additionally, after hearing about the situation, a Tampa Bay Rays reporter immediately gifted another ball to the girl, intensifying the public’s criticism of the man.

As the controversy grew, it was reported that the man eventually returned the ball to the girl. The girl's mother expressed her gratitude through the official social network account of the Tampa Bay Rays fan club, stating, "After people continued to criticize him, the man gave the home run ball to my daughter," and added, "I am thankful that he did the right thing."

Home run balls that land in the stands during MLB games often become souvenirs for fans and can also carry significant collectible value. Previously, Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball in 2024 was sold at auction for 4.39 million dollars (approximately 6.1 billion won at the time), setting a record for the highest price ever.

Because of this, disputes among fans over home run balls sometimes occur in the stands. In June of last year, a quarrel over a home run ball between a woman and a boy during a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Miami Marlins drew attention online.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.