June 15, 2004

REGGIE, REGGIE, REGGIE...:

Happy ending to ugly ballpark story (KEVIN LONNQUIST, 6/14/04, The Dallas Morning News)

Four-year-old Nick O'Brien proved why baseball will always be a kid's game.

The Plano resident, who was watching his first major league game with his parents, Edie and Jeff, became the sympathetic figure of fans when he was pushed aside in the scramble for a foul ball at Ameriquest Field in Arlington on Sunday.

But the ugliness had a happy ending. Nick went home with two big league bats and four baseballs. Two of the items came personally from St. Louis outfielder Reggie Sanders.

"I felt in my heart I should do something," Sanders said. "You gotta remember, it's all about the kids. As a player, we're able to reach out more."

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 15, 2004 6:22 AM
Comments

I've only seen this once - did the guy end up giving the kid the ball?
There's no excuse for pushing away a kid but when you get focused on catching the ball it is easy to lose sight of what's around you (i.e. that's why fielders call out who has a fly ball in the outfield)

Posted by: AWW at June 15, 2004 9:30 AM

I confess that one of my least proud moments was beating a fat old lady to a Ryne Sandberg HR. I did slightly redeem myself, however, by giving it to one of the kids in our group.

Posted by: at June 15, 2004 9:53 AM

At Fenway this guy would have left the park
minus a few teeth (if the event took place
as described).

Posted by: J.H. at June 15, 2004 10:04 AM

Reggie Sanders is a good player and a great guy. It's too bad no team wants to keep him. I hated that the Diamondbacks gave him up in 2001.

Posted by: Brandon at June 15, 2004 12:48 PM

Actually saw this incident on TV. The Rangers announcers were all over the guy who pushed the kid aside. They sent their roving reporter down to see if the guy would give the kid the ball. He refused. Got to be silly after a while, especially when every player in the park seemed to be giving the kid balls and bats.

Oh well, it was the only memorable occurrence in the 13-2 snoozer.

Posted by: Casey Abell at June 15, 2004 2:24 PM

The kid looks okay in the picture. Since when did ballpark etiquette require total deference to every 4 year old in the crowd.

Casey-- if there was shoving involved, then I might amend my opinion, but like AWW said I'm sure the man's eyes were on the ball and maybe he was trying to catch it for his daughter who I also spot in the picture.

Posted by: h-man at June 15, 2004 2:41 PM

h-man:

Yeah, I once flattened a guy, two moms and a little tyke so I could get a puck for my son 'cause that's the kind of superdad I am. And you are right--4 year olds are on their own as far as I'm concerned. It's a tough world.

Posted by: Peter B at June 15, 2004 4:06 PM
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