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5 Easy Tips to Help You Snag a Free Baseball at a Game

baseballsnag

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 more than 12,000 baseballs at different Major League stadiums across North America. Here are his top five tips for getting one:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

For more tips, check out Hample’s website at www.zackhample.com.

51 Comments on 5 Easy Tips to Help You Snag a Free Baseball at a Game

  1. What if the ball is hit to the middle of all of the stands

  2. I am going to a minor league baseball game on july 4 and this summer i am also going to a mariners game too I am sure the great tips will come in handy!P.S. Got any advice on getting autographs?If only I could get a signed Mickey Mantle card…

  3. hey those were good tips.i’ll use them.

  4. thanks ill use them next time

  5. Baseball Card Boy // March 25, 2010 at 5:55 pm // Reply

    I have a Mariano Rivera signed glove from going to a game at Camden Yards.

  6. the best way is go before the game starts. pitchers are warming right near you if you go down to the sidelines. they also sign pictures and baseballs. it matters what team your visiting and how many people are there, but the chance of getting his a lot greater then during a game.

    😀

  7. I’v gone to three baseball games but not one baseball yet

  8. PlatypusGuy // August 27, 2009 at 1:01 pm // Reply

    I’m gonna try it when I am able to go to another game.

  9. qwerty like 🙂

  10. Thanks for the tipp, I hope it comes in handy when I go to the astros game tomorrow.

  11. M.L.B. Cubs rocks ! // July 5, 2009 at 1:37 pm // Reply

    the only time i’ve got a base ball at a mojors game was at a world series game I went to when i was younger and it seeems like the B.ball players are not givving as many b. balls as they use to. Alot of base ball addicts should read your tips. thanks again.

  12. PolarIceFreeze // July 2, 2009 at 9:35 am // Reply

    That Is Awesome Thanks For The Tip To Fellow Cub Scouts

  13. Awsome I`ve always wanted to get a major or even minor league baseball

  14. blackmage21 // June 28, 2009 at 3:48 pm // Reply

    where do they get all those baseballs anyway?

  15. NewJediMaster // June 27, 2009 at 1:53 pm // Reply

    I have been to many Major League, AA, and AAA games but I NEVER caught a ball.

  16. thanx 4 da tips ill try them if i get 2 go 2 game 2nite

  17. Thanks for the tips. I have caught 2 balls from the redsox.

  18. ColoradoRoxrock // June 25, 2009 at 9:47 am // Reply

    I read his blog and he said Kauffman stadium is good and I am going to go there this summer. Thanks for the tips. I hope I can get an Ichiro Suzuki ball because they are visiting the royals that day.

  19. next time i go to a kc royals game i will try these

  20. AUSSIE YANKEE FAN // June 18, 2009 at 3:45 pm // Reply

    ONE DAY I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A REAL BASEBALL FIELD IN AMERICA JUST SO I HAD THE CHANCE TO USE YOUR VERY USEFUL TIPS.(MAY COME IN HANDY ONE DAY) YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.

  21. ez come ez go // June 17, 2009 at 2:02 pm // Reply

    i really want to catch baseballs thanks to the tips!

  22. redsoxalltheway // June 17, 2009 at 12:55 pm // Reply

    another good tip is to go to sunday day games cause nobodys there and ur more likly to get a ball thrown to u

  23. 1# METS fan // June 14, 2009 at 3:49 pm // Reply

    I have 11 baseballs.YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!

  24. THIS IS GOOD. IVE NEVER BEEN 2 A GAME AND NEVER WILL. MY FAVORITE TEAM IS THE CLEVELAND INDIANS.

  25. I live in Sacremento and I some times Go to the River Cats games. I hope I can finaly catch a foul ball or home run.

  26. littlemike // June 4, 2009 at 5:58 pm // Reply

    these are good tips and they’ll probably work

  27. I go to paw sox games alot but have never goten a game ball

  28. once i read this i thoght cool and i’ve caught at least 100 baseballs at the ranger stadium

  29. I think this is a great way to show people how to catch baseballs. I have another tip too: Sit by the bullpen, so you can ask for a ball when the pitchers are done warming up.

  30. It is cool

  31. good tips

  32. awesomeboss // March 21, 2009 at 8:14 pm // Reply

    the only ball i’ve caught is at my local team

  33. cool thanks for the great tip

  34. MagicMocha // March 18, 2009 at 2:43 pm // Reply

    We got several balls from our tripple A team. Cub scouts got to sleep on the field in tents and there were lots of balls stuck at the bottom of the fence.

  35. Here I come. Look out baseball

  36. good tips

  37. Astrosfan123 // July 7, 2008 at 11:10 am // Reply

    thank you for the tips!

  38. Spider Man // May 28, 2008 at 7:06 pm // Reply

    Now I’ll be prepared when I ho to a ball game.

  39. Sweet!

  40. marinerfreak101 // February 4, 2008 at 7:04 pm // Reply

    ive read this before now ive caught 100s of balls

  41. # 1Yankee fan // December 27, 2007 at 11:19 pm // Reply

    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.

  42. I want to try

  43. I think Citizen Is the place

  44. Penutbutter TT // September 27, 2007 at 8:11 pm // Reply

    Thanks for the comments. I’ll try to use them next time I go to a game.

  45. frosted flakes // September 23, 2007 at 5:30 pm // Reply

    I’ll try that next time I go to the Metrodome!

  46. The state I live in doesn’t have any MLB teams , so it’s kind of hard to get a fly ball!

  47. Yeah i agree, I live in atlanta and so far I’ve caught about 30 balls

  48. Thanks for the tips

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