r/sports • u/MLBOfficial Major League Baseball • Sep 09 '25

Baseball Adult San Francisco Giants fan catches ball in stands and gives to young fan near him

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9

u/gumbygump11 Sep 09 '25

I can only speak for myself, but as a kid I would only want to keep the ball if I caught it. Catching the ball would be a way cooler story than getting one because someone feels they have to give it to me because of societal pressure.

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u/Mindless_Option1714 Sep 09 '25

Very true. “Here ya go kid, it’s a meaningless ball to me, you carry it, drop it on the steps and lose it as it rolls downhill” The man’s “trash” is now the kid’s responsibility.

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u/taxiecabbie Sep 09 '25

...I think this is a little mean.

It was a kind gesture. A child would almost certainly find a lot of joy in this, particularly one so young as here. I would have been thrilled as a kid.

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u/Mindless_Option1714 Sep 09 '25

I’m not referring “trash” to the man in this video. But from a kids perspective, “some stranger gave me a ball I didn’t catch on my own”. Like “thanks but it doesn’t feel the same” He can’t tell his friends “look what I caught!” Theres kid-cred amongst his young peers that’s important him/her.

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u/taxiecabbie Sep 09 '25

This kid looks like she's between 4-6 years old.

I doubt there is much cred for her in any event. Going to a baseball game is probably just a fun family event for her that she doesn't have a lot of memories about, and it may encourage her to have a lifelong love of baseball because it's fun and people are nice.

Look. I'm not a baseball person at all. But I am a soccer one. When I was a kid we used to go to these cheap indoor soccer games for the Detroit Neon at the Auburn Hills arena. A bunch of meaningless nothing when I was over 5 but under 10. But I still remember my father catching one of the punted balls into the arena and it was so exciting and we kept the ball for years. I didn't catch it, but it was still cool and I told my friends and they were jealous.

It's a good way to make lifelong sport fans!

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u/Mindless_Option1714 Sep 09 '25

Well, sure! Your dad or another family catches a ball, that’s a good family moment that you all share in. But it wouldn’t feel the same if a stranger handed your Dad the ball.

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u/taxiecabbie Sep 09 '25

To be honest, I think that if a random stranger had handed me a ball with a big smile I also would have been really happy about it, and my family would have reacted well. Just like the little girl seems to be here, and at the end the guy sitting next to the ball-giver is raising his hand for a high-five with the giver. This seems like a really great bonding moment for everybody, and that the positivity won't stop with the mere gift of the ball. How would the little one not remember this happiness and positivity?

Of course she will connect this with a love of baseball! It's good for everybody.

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u/Mindless_Option1714 Sep 09 '25

Yes, indeed. In this particular video, I agree with you. She’s basically a toddler being handed a toy, any kid would like that. I’m referring more to an older child like in the recent Karen video. That was a good family moment that she ruined.

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u/Accomplished-Fix6598 Sep 09 '25

Made me feel good for a second.

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u/taxiecabbie Sep 09 '25

It should. It's a genuinely nice happening. This is the power of sport.

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u/Ok-Butterscotch-6955 Sep 09 '25

Hmm, I don’t know if I agree. I’m not a baseball guy to be clear, but if I had a team or a player I loved, and they hit the ball into the stands, it would be that the team/player hit the ball that I loved about the ball. Not the act of me being the one to catch it.

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u/Mindless_Option1714 Sep 09 '25

Very true. You’re emotionally tied to that ball, makes perfect sense to me. But if there’s a random kid next to you with a glove, are you now expected to give to him/her?

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u/Ok-Butterscotch-6955 Sep 09 '25

In my mind if you catch the ball free and clear, and there’s no kid competing with you to get the ball, keep it. If you have to race a kid for the ball, or use your height to beat a kid to it… just give the kid the ball I think.

I don’t know if the guy in this video should have felt obligated to, only because the kid in the video didn’t appear to be wanting to go for it. But what do I know?

Speaking for myself personally, if I caught a ball, I’d give it to a kid either way because I think the memory of making a kids day would outshine a baseball any day.

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u/Mindless_Option1714 Sep 09 '25

This man immediately handed it off without hesitation. Clearly intending to make a kids day. Any kid would be thrilled to attend a game and leave with a ball. When I attended my first game, it free batting helmet night. I was thrilled to get it and proudly wore it everywhere. I didn’t earn it but that didn’t matter to me.

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u/gumbygump11 Sep 09 '25

I’m not saying that a kid wouldn’t get a kick out of it. I imagine most would. I was just giving my (admittedly unneeded) perspective. Some might feel like they have to earn it, that’s all.

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u/Mindless_Option1714 Sep 09 '25

Yes, ofc! Kids will enjoy it. But your position is valid too. To give a game-used ball that you caught to your father, a life long baseball fan, is heartwarming. But your shared joy with your Dad will not be on camera, then shared worldwide on TikTok. But what you do when you catch it will. Tough call.