Record-Breaker: All Parties Drop the Ball

Re “Court to Decide Owner of Ball,” Nov. 28: Baseball, America’s pastime, is a pastoral game, a non-contact sport that celebrates teamwork and all that is right about the USA. Unless, of course, one is a baseball fan. Then it is suddenly a contact sport. Forget who catches the ball, just knock ‘em down. Whoever ends up with the ball is right. The only thing more disgusting than the mere existence of this fracas over Barry Bonds’ 73rd home run ball is the attitude of Patrick Hayashi’s lawyer. His claim that Alex Popov “dropped” the ball after being jumped by numerous other fans represents the worst in American values.

Todd Engle

Los Angeles

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By turning their backs on the fight for Bonds’ record-breaking ball and leaving Popov no option but to turn to the courts for justice, major league baseball silently condones the beating and mugging of its fans. I wonder what its response would have been if Popov had been 12 years old instead of 37. Would Giant officials have stepped in then and decided the ball belonged to him? Then they should step in now, as his age does not matter.

Any fan of any age should be free to enjoy America’s favorite pastime, have a good time and not be at risk of lawsuits, beatings or muggings. And I guess you are--as long as you make no attempt to catch a ball. Kids, you may as well leave your gloves at home, because major league baseball won’t protect you if you leap for that foul ball.

John Pattison

Los Angeles

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I hope the court rules that the San Francisco Giants own the ball, and that they donate it to charity. It will at least send the message to these two grown men that if they can’t play nicely, their toys will be taken away.

Mike Truman

Orange

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Cut the damn ball in quarters, give each man and each lawyer a piece and let’s get on with life.

Ramon Angeloni

Hollywood