MLB Fans and Foul Balls: The Good and Bad of Getting a Game-Day Souvenir

We go to the game, some of us bring gloves and some of us dare to try to snag a quick-moving ball with our bare hands.

Fans can earn their 15 minutes of fame with a great play or they can live in infamy with a deplorable act caught on camera to live on forever thanks to the Internet.

No one will ever forget Steve Bartman's rise to fame, or perhaps shame, with his foul-ball incident while cheering on his beloved Chicago Cubs.

Perhaps some of these highlights, and lowlights (yes, I am making up words now) will also live on in baseball lore.

The Bartman Ball

Perhaps the most famous foul ball in recent MLB history.

Steve Bartman just wanted a souvenir. Did he change MLB history with his interference? Who's to say? Moises Alou certainly thinks he did.

Daughter Tosses Dad's Foul Ball Back

Well, fans throw home run balls back onto the field when they are hit by the opposing team.

Perhaps this father is teaching his daughter the rules of the game, and she just got them a bit confused?

Oh well, pops, we all know foul balls are a common occurrence for all fans to catch, right?

Better luck next time...

You hugged your daughter after, though, so you're a definite winner in my book... Not like the next guy...

Dad Drops Daughter to Catch a Foul Ball

Hey Dodger fans, seriously? This has not been a good year for your image as fans.

I'm just kidding, but this guy certainly is not going to win any father of the year awards for this one.

I love how the girl hits her dad afterwards. Personally though, the slap to the chest wasn't enough. Dad deserved a backhand across the face on national television for that one.

And then you didn't even catch the ball? For shame... Hope you bought your daughter a Dodger dog, some ice cream and perhaps one of those foam fingers to make up for that one.

This Dad DIDN'T Drop His Daughter!

That last dad in that last slide thinks this guy is just showing off.

Come to think of it, so do I. No attempt to even set the child down, that's some confidence right there.

The A's are leading the American League in errors this season, can anyone find that guy and sign him to play either first or third base? I sense a Gold Glove in his future.

Another Father of the Year Candidate

Personally I am starting to get concerned for the safety of the children at baseball games.

It's not the foul balls that concern me though, it's the parents going after the foul balls. This guy takes out his own kid to catch the ball... Wow, just wow...

Presidential Foul Ball

Not a good idea to hit the ex-president with a foul ball. I could be wrong, but I would imagine that he can hand out a worse punishment than Major League Baseball.

Thankfully for the batter, W is a huge baseball fan. I'm sure he was just upset he didn't catch the foul ball.

Guy Bails on His Girlfriend to Avoid Foul Ball

I hope she dumped you after this move, buddy.

Actually, I don't know you at all, so that's not fair. You probably have some redeeming qualities, but why did you not give her the foul ball at least? And why are you smiling at the camera?

You should be hanging your head in shame for this one...

Toronto Police Foul Ball Fail

That foul ball needs to be booked for assaulting an officer.

Either that or this particular officer needs to work on his acrobatics.

I'll let you decide.

He Runs, He Dives, and He Misses the Foul Ball

You get an "A" for effort, my friend.

You get an "F" for execution though.

Hey though, you did get to go on the field. Tell me, what's the dirt like? Did you get to keep some as a souvenir, at least?

I mean, you did face-plant into the dirt, so I am sure you pulled some off your shirt and out of your hair...

Ball Girl Makes an Amazing Foul Ball Catch

No sarcastic comment for this one.

I have no idea if this actually happened or if the video is manufactured, but this was one amazing catch.

I love the outfielder's reaction.

I do know that she was a guest shagging balls on the field at Yankee Stadium during the Home Run derby following the emergence of this video though.

Oh, just watch the video, you'll be impressed...

Like Stealing Candy from a Baby... Well It Was Close to That, Anyway

I thought the saying was "chicks dig the long ball," not "chicks lose their sense of decency over a foul ball."

The most deserving induction into the Hall of Shame of foul ball plays...

This lady (and I use that term very loosely here), literally steals the ball away from the little girl.

Not only that, she looks very happy and proud of herself afterwards.

I have no idea who you are, lady, but I want to remove Steve Bartman from the position of most notorious foul ball play in the history of baseball.

His may or may not have changed the outcome of a game, but your despicable act should live in infamy for the remainder of time, or until some other fan does something stupid and the camera catches it (and the Internet broadcasts it to the world).