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How to snag a baseball
How often have you gone to a baseball game hoping to catch a ball that goes into the stands? It’s not as hard as it seems, says Zack Hample, author of “How to Snag Major League Baseballs.”
Hample has snagged almost 3,000 baseballs at 40 different Major League stadiums across North America. Here are his top five tips for getting one:
Arrive early
Teams warm up one to two hours before the game, so be the first person in the gate. You’ll have fewer people to compete with for foul or home-run balls, and you’ll occasionally find balls already lying in the seats when you arrive.
Sit on the aisle
You’ll need to move around to increase your chances. “Don’t get trapped in the middle of a long row. You need to be able to jump up and move,” Hample says.
Play the percentages
Check out the rosters ahead of time, so you know how many right- and left-handed batters there will be. Most right-handed batters will hit foul balls to the first-base side; left-handed batters, to the third-base side. Pick a seat in the stadium accordingly.
Ask politely
When teams are warming up, they’ll often throw balls to their fans in the stands. “And players love to throw balls to kids,” Hample says.
Buy a hat for each team that’s playing
Players on the road love to spot their fans, and will often reward them by throwing them a ball. Change your hat according to who’s in the field.
WHERE TO SNAG A BASEBALL
Best: Turner Field in Atlanta, Ga. “There’s a gap between the outfield wall and the outfield stands,” Hample says. “You can snag a lot of balls that fall in the gap. Since they’re out of reach, you’ll need a special ball-snagging device tied to a string.
Worst: Yankee Stadium in New York City. “It’s the most crowded stadium in baseball, and security is strict — you can’t get down to the dugouts before the game like you can in most ballparks.”
For more tips, check out Hample’s Web site at www.zackhample.com.
Read 10 comments about “How to snag a baseball”
September 15th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Thanks for the tips
September 15th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Yeah i agree, I live in atlanta and so far I’ve caught about 30 balls
September 18th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
The state I live in doesn’t have any MLB teams , so it’s kind of hard to get a fly ball!
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:30 pm
I’ll try that next time I go to the Metrodome!
September 27th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Thanks for the comments. I’ll try to use them next time I go to a game.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I think Citizen Is the place
October 5th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
I want to try
December 27th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Your Right I’ve been going to games since I was little and nothing. When I saw Yankee Stadium was the worst I was so mad. But hey security’s strict ’cause they’re so good.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
ive read this before now ive caught 100s of balls
April 6th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Sweet!