Good read. Like the author, I was also the kid at ball games who always wanted a ball. I frequent my hometown team's games as a season-ticket holder. I don't a

Good read. Like the author, I was also the kid at ball games who always wanted a ball. I frequent my hometown team's games as a season-ticket holder. I don't always get a foul ball, but when I do, I give it to a kid. When I don't get a ball naturally, I go to the vendor that sells authentic merchandise (see: genuine) and buy a used game ball. It runs me about $30. It comes with a sticker on it to verify its authenticity. I peel sticker off and rub away the residue. I'll then find a kid who's been working for a foul ball all game and toss them the ball. They'll celebrate as if they won the lottery. Their parent will usually come find me and say how I didn't have to do that, that their kid is so happy; I joke to them "in 15 years, tell them I bought the ball to give it to them because I knew how badly they wanted the ball."