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.
i have been to an Astros game but i was to far up to catch a ball
at a AAA game the bullpen through me a ball the kids got to run the bases and I got it signed!
I got one at a AAA game. It bounced off the scoreboard!
Milwaukee Brewers have a pretty good stadium to catch baseballs. I have a friend who has gotten, lets see, 5 of them!
Try bringing a well-broken in glove. It’s a lot easier than bare-handed or the ‘ol hat catch.
what about with a cup?
it would be a lot harder to catch
Thanks the tips. I go to a lot of minor league baseball games and have caught a lot of balls.
i egree
im going to an oriles game on the 30 im sure those tips will come in handy and i hope to catch one from felix pie
i caught 4 in the last game i went to
just caught a kelly shoppach 1st grand slam ball at tropicana field
white sox are the very best
i caught millions at oroiles games
I’VE BEEN TO MINITE MAIDE A LOT AND I’VE CAUGHT ABOUT 6 BASEBALLS INCLUDING ONE THAT CRAIG BIGGIO HIT
toronto blue jays rock!!!!!!=)
i caught a jays ball in toronto eh