Back in July, when the Phillies' Ryan Howard hit his 200th career home run, it was noteworthy because he achieved the milestone in fewer games than anyone in major league history. And now it's noteworthy for another reason: 12-year-old Jennifer Valdivia, who ended up with the historic ball, was ushered to the Phillies clubhouse after the game to exchange it for an autographed one. Her mother sued the organization and now Jennifer has Howard's 200th home run ball back in her possession.
"My ball,'' Jennifer beamed, according to the Miami Herald. "I have it, finally.''
On Wednesday, NPR's Melissa Block spoke with Norm Kent, Valdivia's attorney, and he explained why the family decided to file a lawsuit.
"The Philadelphia Phillies' team representative, knowing not only the historic value of that baseball, but its financial value, sent a team representative to Marlin security to retrieve young Jennifer from the stands," Kent said. "And she was there, 12-year-old Jennifer, with her 15-year-old brother, neither of the age of majority, offered her some cotton candy and a baseball worth 100 bucks in exchange for one that was worth thousands."
The baseball also had value to Howard, who had just made history, Block countered, before noting that the comments on the Miami Herald web site (Howard set the record in Miami against the Marlins) didn't support the lawsuit.
"Mr. Kent, you probably would not be surprised to know that the comments ... are not favorable to your side," Block began. "I wanted to read one of them to you: 'Way to teach a 12-year-old how to extort money at an early age.' And you know that extorting money for baseball, ball hawking, is becoming a big business among fans."
Kent's response? "I think that if there was extortion that occurred here, it was the Phillies holding the baseball hostage from her for two months after they unlawfully deprived her of it."
According to the Associated Press, the Phillies declined to comment.
The lesson: when in doubt, sue somebody.
Comments (Page 1 of 98)
your Phillies are a bunch of conniving bastards!!
The ball should go to Cooperstown someday.
You're kidding, right? For the 200th home run?
Is there some "rule" that if I hit a ball to you, it's now YOURS? I think it's the team's ball, not the fan's. This is ridiculous.
Actually, yes there is a long standing rule that any baseball hit into the stands becomes the property of the fan that possesses it. That has been in Baseball for over 100 years. Ryan Howard had every right to want his historic baseball, but the Phillies should have done the proper thing and dealt with Jennifer's parents, instead of dealing with a 12 year old.
Major League baseball rules state that anything that reaches the stands becomes the property of the fan.
Actually for mlb games I believe there is a rule stating that all balls or bats that enter the stands are the fans to keep. It belongs to the girl who caught it. if the phillies wanted the ball then they should have made fair compensation for to get it back. Since the girl had to take this to court this ball will most likely never end up in cooperstown.
Once a ball leave's the field the fans are free to have it. If it were any other home run ball they would have let the little girl leave the stadium with that ball. She caught it, it's her's. End of story
I believe tradition dictates that a ball hit into the stands belongs to the person who retrieves (catches) it. It has become customary in recent years to offer the fan other memorabilia in exchange for the historic ball. I agree that the fan should not have sued the Phillies, but in turn, the club should not have made the offer without an adult representing them present during the offer. It seems that greed rules where common sense and courtesy once did.
This is easy for me to say because I was not involved in the situation -- I would have made the exchange if the replacement ball was inscribed by Ryan Howard with the historic facts. Being a baseball fan, I also would like to see the ball in Cooperstown.
Any other time a fan catches the ball it's theirs to keep why should this time be any different? Baseball players make a ton of money anyways.
Obviously, you don't go to baseball games much. The tradition is that if the ball is caught by the fan, they get to keep it. This fan was a minor, so couldn't make an informed decision. It is very likely that the ball had both sentimental and financial value to the player. Offering an autographed ball of no significance is a paltry exchange. She caught the ball, it belongs to her. If she later decides to sell it, that's just luck on her part.
maybe try going to an MLB game before showing everyone how ignorant you are
It's actually called the Shapiro Rule, named after the fan who had the temerity to challenge the custom that the team got the baseball back after a foul ball.
How about making it a law that these historic balls be handed over, and no one sells them, they go to hall of fame.
i like this idea the best
Screw the Hall of Fame
how about the fans make a rule after that one and dont go to baseball games. watch how fast mlb would change their mind.
Really.....come on!
The parents and the lawyer looked at that ball for what it was worth financially. Whatever....I hate parents like that!
I agree with you totally! And where were the parents while a 12 and 15 year old were at the game by themselves?