Is Catching A Baseball Worth Losing Your Life?

"Go get your glove" are usually the first words a parent will tell their kids once the parent surprises their child with tickets to their first ballgame. Typically, it doesn't matter where they sit, they want to give their child hope that they MIGHT get a baseball hit off a Major Leaguer's bat. Sometimes a parent might take their child early to see batting practice to give them a better opportunity for a baseball and they hold their glove up to the sky hoping it lands in there. 

The older we get, the more we think we can get a baseball. We're taller, stronger and have faster reflexes.

Just look at a typical baseball game. Between batting practice, foul balls, home runs, nicked balls,  sentimental hits, etc. they could go through upwards of a hundred balls a game. Go to your local sports store and they could have the same amount of baseballs in stock.

So what makes a baseball from a Major Leaguer that much more special? Unless it's a home run, you typically don't get an autograph from that player. You might get on tv if it's a spectacular catch, but realistically, you just get a ball.  Yet people will dive, push, jump, drop kids and food just got a baseball.

Well tragedy struck yesterday for a family after a dad begged for a foul ball that went back onto the field. Josh Hamilton, of the Texas Rangers, listened to the fan and threw the ball into the stands. Well, it just happened that the throw was a little bit short, and Shannon Stone, from Brownwood, Texas, went for the ball and fell 20 feet to the ground, ultimately to his death.  But sitting next to him was his son who watched his father reach for the ball and fall. He didn't die instantly, but he ended up going into cardiac arrest in transport to the hospital.

I'm not saying his death isn't tragic, but aren't we going a little bit too far for a baseball?  I understand memories and having that experience with whomever you're with. But is it really worth your life to drive, jump or push your way for a foul ball? One that doesn't even count in the scorecard? You might lose your beer or food, which can be replaced, but is it really worth getting seriously hurt over? People are hurt at ball games because they aren't paying attention or they can't get out of the way of a ball or bat. 

Why put yourself into danger? 

I know we're all human and getting any souvenir from any sporting event that was on the playing field is special.  But remember, there is another one where it came from.  Enjoy the game but leave the risk to the players. They are getting paid for it, you aren't. Don't think because you pay an arm and a leg for the seat, that you are entitled to anything from the field. 

We are all saddened by this event, but please learn from it.  Your life isn't worth a foul ball.