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Autographed Baseball a Kid Doesn't Want

I often complain to my friends about our legal system. And it's stories like this that make me complain.

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard hit his 200th career home run. And that's not all that much of a milestone. Well, I didn't think it was.

But it's the fastest player in baseball to ever reach that milestone so quickly.

A 12-year-old caught the ball, and the procedure that always happens happened.

The player wanted to keep the ball, so he traded the kid some items for it.

Now, I doubt it was the child that had buyers remorese (for lack of a better word). I think her parents and lawyers, started talking. And that's when the legal tug of war began a few months back.

The girl started to complain about how she wished she had the ball, to show all her friends. And I guess now, she has her wish.

The girl had been escorted to the Phillies clubhouse, where they talked her into exchanging it for an autographed baseball. But a Fort Lauderdale attorney (and memorabilia enthusiast), explained that that's worth substantially less than the original ball would've been.

This lawyer helped get the ball back, after he sued the Phillies a few days ago. They got the ball back later that same day.

The Phillies aren't commenting, and they're worrying about the playoffs right now.

Now, I myself, have some weird questions on the subject I'd like answered. Did the kid have to give back the autographed baseball?

And, why would a team escort a minor, without their parents, into the clubhouse? I mean, forgot the Roman Polanskis of the world. Just the fact that a kid is being asked to make decisions, of any kind, without her parents present, is just baffling.

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Comment by Robert Babb on October 8, 2009 at 3:52pm: What would also make the second baseball worth that much less? I would also agree a with you on why were the parents not pressent?

Comment by Josh Board on October 9, 2009 at 9:42am: I'm not sure what second baseball you mean, being worth "less".

Comment by Robert Babb on October 9, 2009 at 6:57pm: I was talking about the lawyer for the child saying that the signed ball would be worth less than the one caught.

Comment by Josh Board on October 9, 2009 at 11:15pm: Oh well...the thing about autographed baseballs is this. Players sign them ALL THE TIME. Even ones that are tough autograph signers. But, there are only so many record setting balls. So, one of those will always be worth more.

Comment by Jeff Browne on July 1, 2011 at 2:55am: If it was me I would've respected the fact that it is Ryan Howard's 200th home run and traded it for another autographed ball plus other gear. Easily the girl could've have gotten other items and or experiences from the Phillies. Getting to go into the club house and possibly meet the rest of the team would be more appealing to me than having a ball not worth too much more than a new one. Not a sermon, just a thought.