There was a heartwarming scene at Citi Field on Friday as a young New York Mets fan gifted a ball he received from a two-time Cy Young Award winner to another fan.
Conduct in the stands at Major League Baseball games has been a hot topic since the “Phillies Karen” saga, when a fan angrily demanded a home-run ball that had been given to his son.
The scenes at Flushing Meadows were entirely different after Texas Rangers star Jacob deGrom gifted a game ball to a pair of young fans in the front row at the end of the sixth inning. The boys’ reaction could not have been any more different than the actions of the infamous “Phillies Karen.”
READ MORE:Donald Trump reaction from Yankees fans changes during 9/11 appearance
READ MORE:Packers suffer devastating double blow in single play vs Commanders on TNF
The youngsters already had their hands on a game ball each, so when they received a third from former Mets All-Star pitcher deGrom, one of the boys decided to gift it to another fan sitting nearby.
The lucky recipient of the ball was blown away by the gesture, exchanging a warm handshake in a moment that was caught by the TV cameras.
It was a rare moment of joy for Mets fans after the team fell to 76-72 on the season with an 8-3 defeat to deGrom and the Rangers.
Viewers were quick to share their thoughts on the moment of generosity on social media. One person wrote: “That young man is being raised correctly.”
A second said: “What the world should be in a 20-second clip,” and a third added: “Dear @Mets: find these two kids and give them free tickets for the rest of the season. Thank you.”
Internet sleuths have, thus far, tried and failed to put a name to the woman who became the viral pariah known as the “Phillies Karen.”
The incident happened on Sep. 5 when Harrison Bader cracked a home run against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park.
The ball landed in the stands, and Drew Feltwell was the first to get his hands on it, gleefully handing the ball to his young son.
However, the enraged woman who instantly became known as the “Phillies Karen” marched towards the Feltwells and demanded they give her the ball.
She unleashed a tirade that the father “couldn’t even repeat on air,” he revealed in an interview with FOX, after he gave in and handed over the ball.
READ MORE:MLB Wild Card picture as Mets plummet while Yankees and Red Sox eye security
READ MORE:Donald Trump entourage was very different for Yankees game after US Open boos
“She was very vulgar,” Feltwell recalled. “Screaming right in my ear that, you know, lotta bad words and, ‘That’s my ball.’
“That was her section, and [she] was trying to tell me she had the right to that ball. The screaming and yelling kinda got to us and I just wanted her to go away. So, that’s how she got the ball.”
Although he was disgusted by the woman’s actions, Feltwell did not wish any ill upon her. He added: “Well, [more than anything] I’d love to get the ball to give back to my son.
“But I don’t want anything bad to happen to her. Definitely not happy with her. Our evening worked out quite well afterward. So, can’t complain.”