So I’ve been to hundreds of baseball games in my lifetime and I’ve even gotten a few balls from time to time. It’s not really my thing, but my brother knows a few players and it’s pretty cool when I get one and hand it off to someone who appreciates it a little more than I do.

    Here are a few good pointers from my perspective on how to get one. First off you pretty much have to have great seats and by great seats I mean you have to be in the first 10 rows over the dugouts or in the first few rows down the line where the outfielders come in & out each inning. Next it helps to be a kid; players’ loves kids especially when they are all decked out in the teams’ jersey and a hat. Having a glove doesn’t hurt either. Even these over priced athletes for the most part can’t resist a young kid screaming out his name. Thirdly just like in life it really helps to be a cute girl. Everyone knows cute girls get away with…. Well you get the point. 

 It’s also a big plus to know the players, either personally or at least have a program and know who’s who. 

    A few years back I was at Dodger Stadium sitting in the second row behind the Florida Marlins on deck circle with a female companion of mine. Mark Kotsay who had played with and against my brother in their high school days was taking swings. I introduced myself to him and asked for a ball. He acknowledged me and my request and next time he was in the on deck circle he flipped me a ball. I in turn handed it over to a kid sitting not to far away from us with a Marlins shirt.

      Most recently I was at a Cubs game at Wrigley Field sitting four rows behind the bullpen of the Chicago White Sox with an out of town friend of mine and we were sitting next to a woman who was at her 1st game at Wrigley field. In the later innings I spotted relieve pitcher Matt Thornton backing up the pitcher warming up. I yelled to Thornton to say hey & make him aware of the fact that this was her first game at Wrigley and asked him for a ball for her.   
   
     He nodded back and motioned for me to wait until 3 outs. At the end of inning he called me over and handed me a ball. I thanked him for the ball, we talked briefly about the fact that we were at the same bar a week earlier watching the Lakers/Celtics game and that was that. I handed the ball over to the woman and she couldn’t thank me enough, not only was she impressed, but my friend in town from LA was equally impressed. I had come through like a champ and it felt pretty good.