Other Baseball Success Thread

[xholdourownx]

I have been thinking about starting a thread like this for a while. Hopefully it is one that will last and be pretty popular.

Personally, when I go to baseball games, I go to get baseballs. I catch them and keep them for autographs or give them to kids. I have about 50 autographed OMLB's and have yet to buy one.

I also try to make it a priority to get the nicer promotions at the games like bobbleheads, shirts, etc.

I just wanted to know what kinds of things everyone else is getting or if this is even of interest to others. This is something that really interests me and collecting baseballs is what really got me started in my baseball collecting habits.

Also, if anyone would like tips on getting baseball at games, we can discuss that here as well. I know quite a bit about being successful at it.

[RuthMayBond]

I have been thinking about starting a thread like this for a while. Hopefully it is one that will last and be pretty popular.

Personally, when I go to baseball games, I go to get baseballs. I have about 50 autographed OMLB's and have yet to buy one.

I also try to make it a priority to get the nicer promotions at the games like bobbleheads, shirts, etc.

I just wanted to know what kinds of things everyone else is getting or if this is even of interest to others. This is something that really interests me and collecting baseballs is what really got me started in my baseball collecting habits. Be afraid, you sound scarily like me

<Also, if anyone would like tips on getting baseball at games, we can discuss that here as well. I know quite a bit about being successful at it.>

Try to research which gates open earliest, and probably get in line at least a half hour before the early gate opens.

Try to research the layout of the outfield of your stadium. Sometimes you have a much better chance trying in right field or in left field. If, for example, left field is better, try going when at least one starter is a lefty.

Try to research which team you will catch in batting practice (might be home team, might be visitors). Try to wear a hat of that team during BP, ESPECIALLY if it is visitors.

Always ask a player PLEASE, don't gripe about not getting a ball. Compliment the players on their hustle or ones who have been tossing balls in.

Try to stand near a row that is not clogged up with other people so you can run.

Find a young kid or hot babe who doesn't care about getting baseballs and take them with you KIDDING!

[xholdourownx]

Be afraid, you sound scarily like me

<Also, if anyone would like tips on getting baseball at games, we can discuss that here as well. I know quite a bit about being successful at it.>

Try to research which gates open earliest, and probably get in line at least a half hour before the early gate opens.

Try to research the layout of the outfield of your stadium. Sometimes you have a much better chance trying in right field or in left field. If, for example, left field is better, try going when at least one starter is a lefty.

Try to research which team you will catch in batting practice (might be home team, might be visitors). Try to wear a hat of that team during BP, ESPECIALLY if it is visitors.

Always ask a player PLEASE, don't gripe about not getting a ball. Compliment the players on their hustle or ones who have been tossing balls in.

Try to stand near a row that is not clogged up with other people so you can run.

Find a young kid or hot babe who doesn't care about getting baseballs and take them with you KIDDING!


Ruth, you know your stuff. But you forgot bring a glove. :p

[RuthMayBond]

Ruth, you know your stuff. But you forgot bring a glove. :pI was kinda hoping that was obvious. But a lot of times it wouldn't have mattered (like the two I got at my last game). What are YOUR tips?

[xholdourownx]

I was kinda hoping that was obvious. But a lot of times it wouldn't have mattered (like the two I got at my last game). What are YOUR tips?

All of your tips are great. Here are some more.

Be the first one in the stadium and look in the seats for balls already hit.
Ask players nicely and don't just root for the home team at this point. Be equally as friendly.
A good time to get a ball is from the bullpen, if you have access, while the starters are warming up.
Don't make a big deal if you do get a ball, players might see and you might not get another if they know you already got one.
If catching hr's definitely be able to move 4 directions. Forward and back if in an aisle, and empty rows on both sides. Don't stand on the front row of the outfield, maybe 8-10 rows back.
Go to zachhample.com and learn to do the 'glove trick'. Very helpful.
Bring a ballpoint pen, just in case there is an opportunity for an auto.
Try to get the balls from the outfield players they use to warm up with between innings.

I know lots of other things. I am just so used to doing them that I don't really think about them. I'll add on as I think of things.

[RuthMayBond]

All of your tips are great. Here are some more.

Be the first one in the stadium and look in the seats for balls already hit. Nice, but not always possible

<Ask players nicely and don't just root for the home team at this point. Be equally as friendly.>

I kinda covered that

<Don't make a big deal if you do get a ball, players might see and you might not get another if they know you already got one.>

Good one, I never hold the ball up or say anything

<If catching hr's definitely be able to move 4 directions. Forward and back if in an aisle, and empty rows on both sides. Don't stand on the front row of the outfield, maybe 8-10 rows back.>

If possible

<Go to zachhample.com and learn to do the 'glove trick'. Very helpful.>

I actually designed a ballcatcher that's maybe better but I gotta find it

[xholdourownx]

From the looks of it, I think we are the only ones interested in this. Just curious, where do you go to games? I go to Turner Field, obviously, and it's usually easy for me to get 2 or 3 balls without any extra efforts.

But on the topic of ballgrabbers, I have seen quite a few good ones with string tied to a cup that is cut to fit a ball. The cup has a roll of duct tape on it for weight. Problem is, the security here is really strict about these and letting them in. But tons of people bring a glove to the game. So, its much easier to get in.

[RuthMayBond]

From the looks of it, I think we are the only ones interested in this.

Tell the guys from this thread

http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=68649

<Just curious, where do you go to games?>

You couldn't guess from my location?

<But on the topic of ballgrabbers, I have seen quite a few good ones with string tied to a cup that is cut to fit a ball. The cup has a roll of duct tape on it for weight. Problem is, the security here is really strict about these and letting them in.>

That's true, I would have to disguise mine as something else

[xholdourownx]

Tell the guys from this thread

http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=68649

<Just curious, where do you go to games?>

You couldn't guess from my location?


I'll have to check that thread. And good point. It is now very obvious.

[xholdourownx]

I checked out the thread. I think I have actually commented in it before. I just never really look in the stadium category.

[Rpollard86]

Hey sorry I'm late on the thread. I have been going to games at Tropicana field for about 2 years now collecting autographed baseballs. It's also what got me into the hobby as well. I definitely suggest you try to plan a visit to Tampa when your favorite team is town for some games because the Trop is an awesome place to talk to your favorite players and to get autographs. Wish yal the best.

[xholdourownx]

Hey sorry I'm late on the thread. I have been going to games at Tropicana field for about 2 years now collecting autographed baseballs. It's also what got me into the hobby as well. I definitely suggest you try to plan a visit to Tampa when your favorite team is town for some games because the Trop is an awesome place to talk to your favorite players and to get autographs. Wish yal the best.

I hope this thread keeps going. I've always wanted to go there. I actually have family in Tampa, so maybe I can try to do that at some point.

Going back to the post I started the thread with, what are some of thing promotional things they give away there? Are they already giving out 2008 pennants? j/k. But seriously, are they? :dance

[xholdourownx]

Ruth - What kind of promotions have you seen or gotten?

At the Ted this year, there has been a Francoeur shirt, a carry-on bag (which is quite nice), and a bobblehead series starting with Teixeiria. This Sunday is Chipper Jones bat day.

Each Sunday old Braves players come and sign autos. It's a great time for me to get baseball cards signed and I've gotten Niekro because of these. It's really nice because our stadium sell a small number of tix for a dollar each day. I just buy one of those and get the autos. Sometimes I buy one of those tix just to go to bp and then leave.

[Rpollard86]

I hope this thread keeps going. I've always wanted to go there. I actually have family in Tampa, so maybe I can try to do that at some point.

Going back to the post I started the thread with, what are some of thing promotional things they give away there? Are they already giving out 2008 pennants? j/k. But seriously, are they? :dance


lol funny they should be though the Rays are good and have a good squad to make a good playoff run....Also they do some crazy stuff there....like fridays they have friday fantasy baseball night. You choose like one player out of every 3 players in a box. The top 5 get stuff like autographed baseballs, jerseys stuff like that....and they have a grand prize running for the whole season who has the most points they win like dugout seats or something like that really cool prize. On Saturdays they have been having concerts. The past saturday Trace Akins performed. Was a blast...

[xholdourownx]

lol funny they should be though the Rays are good and have a good squad to make a good playoff run....Also they do some crazy stuff there....like fridays they have friday fantasy baseball night. You choose like one player out of every 3 players in a box. The top 5 get stuff like autographed baseballs, jerseys stuff like that....and they have a grand prize running for the whole season who has the most points they win like dugout seats or something like that really cool prize. On Saturdays they have been having concerts. The past saturday Trace Akins performed. Was a blast...

We have the friday night fireworks. The only concerts at the ted are ones just hosted by the stadium. I think kenny chesney is here later this summer. That fantasy baseball thing sounds awesome.