Ball From the Final Out of the World Series

[ramram]

Originally Posted by PhillipAbbott79

If the ball is in the stadium, but it is in the persons pocket who owns it? I can go to a store, put something in my pocket but not leave the store with it. That does not mean it is mine and I own it.

It has not left the stadium, but I would think that technically one could argue that it was stolen. It was never that person's ball to put in their pocket and leave with, regardless of the sense of ownership.

But what about all the foul balls that fans take home?

Lawyers could have a lot of fun arguing this question.

[PhillipAbbott79]

Originally Posted by ramram

But what about all the foul balls that fans take home?

Lawyers could have a lot of fun arguing this question.

They could simply make a stadium rule stating that foul balls may be subject to retrieval.

I believe that if they wanted to pursue a stolen ball, they could, but they chose not to. That would not be to say that they had to post a generic rule to make a case for a single ball.

[baseball tourist]

What if a player throws a ball into the stands during batting practice or during the game? It belongs to the person catching/retrieving in, right? Would it be the same if this ball was handed off to his wife?

[z28jd]

I'm pretty sure you guys are all overthinking this matter. A team like the Indians, even if they could say the last WS ball was their ball, wouldn't do something like that, regardless of possible value. It's an unwritten rule in baseball, and something they never even discuss. The home team pays for the baseballs, but they don't claim ownership over any baseball for any reason.

Once a fan has a baseball, it belongs to them. That should be obvious to anyone who has heard about negotiations for a significant ball. A team wouldn't negotiate with a fan and fail in some cases if they had the right to take the ball back.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by z28jd

I'm pretty sure you guys are all overthinking this matter. A team like the Indians, even if they could say the last WS ball was their ball, wouldn't do something like that, regardless of possible value. It's an unwritten rule in baseball, and something they never even discuss. The home team pays for the baseballs, but they don't claim ownership over any baseball for any reason.

Once a fan has a baseball, it belongs to them. That should be obvious to anyone who has heard about negotiations for a significant ball. A team wouldn't negotiate with a fan and fail in some cases if they had the right to take the ball back.

Ah, I respectfully disagree. I am sure balls in the stands belong to the team that purchased them. The fact that they try to negotiate with people nicely is strictly for good public relations. If they wanted a cop to take it out of your hand I have reason to think they could. Nowhere on the back of your ticket to my knowledge does it say balls, bats, and other things that end of in the stands are the property of whoever retrieves it. Yes the practice is not to do take it back but it doesn't mean anything legally.

[almostdone]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Ah, I respectfully disagree. I am sure balls in the stands belong to the team that purchased them. The fact that they try to negotiate with people nicely is strictly for good public relations. If they wanted a cop to take it out of your hand I have reason to think they could. Nowhere on the back of your ticket to my knowledge does it say balls, bats, and other things that end of in the stands are the property of whoever retrieves it. Yes the practice is not to do take it back but it doesn't mean anything legally.

There are actually a few stadiums that do mention on tickets that balls hit in the stands are the property of the fan who catches it. I'm thinking Seattle and maybe San Francisco but it is definitely not on most but rather just a possible few.
Drew

[PhillipAbbott79]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Ah, I respectfully disagree. I am sure balls in the stands belong to the team that purchased them. The fact that they try to negotiate with people nicely is strictly for good public relations. If they wanted a cop to take it out of your hand I have reason to think they could. Nowhere on the back of your ticket to my knowledge does it say balls, bats, and other things that end of in the stands are the property of whoever retrieves it. Yes the practice is not to do take it back but it doesn't mean anything legally.

Right. Practice and good relations versus what is legal are two very different things.

I don't claim to be a lawyer, but here is my take on this:

They may be told that they CAN throw a ball into the stands, or they may have not been told they can or can't at all. Regardless of what they are told, does not change who the technical owner of the ball is. The person tossing or hitting the ball into the stands or catching the ball was potentially not involved in the negotiation of what can and can't be done with the ball(in one case a player which is technilcally an employee and in another a fan nor person which the previous owner has no imposing power over). They are simply the catcher/potential new owner of the ball and may be subject to different rules and guidelines since MLB or the team can impose rules upon its employees.

Even if a player were given explicit permission to throw a ball, or multiple balls that doesn't mean they can throw all balls. Even if you threw all balls into the stands that still wouldn't necessarily constitute an ownership change. I think the distinction is that just because you hold it doesn't mean it is yours, but I may be very wrong about this.

[Snapolit1]

Pretty sure in NFL games when a field goal evades the netting there is no option. Three or four burly guys come up to you and say lets have it. Unless things have changed since I last attended a pro football game about 15 years ago.

(Why anyone goes to a pro football live for any reason other than to get drunk and act stupid in public is beyond me. . . . but clearly a subject for another board.)

[Bestdj777]

At baseball games I've been to, it seems like they always take back bats that are inadvertently thrown. Legal issues aside (I'm a lawyer but not on a clock so won't think of those for now), it's nice to see a ball that is special for more than just an individual end up in a place where more people can hopefully enjoy it--assuming the owner will display it for fans, etc.

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Ah, I respectfully disagree. I am sure balls in the stands belong to the team that purchased them. The fact that they try to negotiate with people nicely is strictly for good public relations. If they wanted a cop to take it out of your hand I have reason to think they could. Nowhere on the back of your ticket to my knowledge does it say balls, bats, and other things that end of in the stands are the property of whoever retrieves it. Yes the practice is not to do take it back but it doesn't mean anything legally.

Like I said, people here are putting too much thought into this. The difference between what I am saying and what you are saying is something that wouldn't happen. MLB would NEVER have someone take the ball from a fan regardless of value, so there is no reason to look into the legal aspect of it.

Teams try to get back baseballs all the time from fans for various milestones and if they can't work out a reasonable deal, then the fan keeps the ball. Fairly simple, no legal detective work needed, it doesn't happen.

[Sean]

Also not a lawyer, but I don't see how a baseball team could claim ownership of a ball that goes into the stands, and at the same time say that they aren't liable for any injuries causes by a ball that is hit into the stands.