In a moment that has since gone viral for all the wrong reasons, an Ohio man is publicly apologizing after he was caught on camera taking a home run ball from an 11-year-old girl during a Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays game.
Max Quinn, who was attending the game on Monday, initially attempted to catch a home run ball hit by Guardians' center fielder Daniel Schneemann. After dropping the ball during his recovery attempt, 11-year-old Evelyn Moore managed to pick it up. In a move that quickly drew the ire of broadcasters and fans alike, Quinn then snatched the ball from the young girl's hands and returned to his seat.
The game's announcers were visibly upset, with one exclaiming, "Noooo, he's not gonna steal that? And then he was proud of it... Give that ball back. C'mon." The incident was captured on video and quickly spread across social media platforms.
In the aftermath, Tampa Bay Rays sideline reporter Ryan Bass stepped in to make things right, delivering replacement balls to both the young girl and her brother. The children's mother, Nikki Moore-DeVore, publicly thanked the Rays organization for their kindness on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Quinn faced significant backlash. He reportedly received anonymous threats, and his collectibles business, Uncover Vintage, was flooded with one-star reviews on Google. Speaking to Cleveland Fox affiliate WJW on Wednesday, Quinn admitted the experience has been difficult.
"It's been a rough 24 hours; 36 hours," Quinn said. "I've also learned that the internet is a really mean and scary place. A lot of people have said a lot of really mean things."
Despite the harsh criticism, Quinn took responsibility for his actions. "I made a lot of mistakes," he confessed. "I'm utterly sorry for everything that's transpired. It was a heat-of-the-moment thing. I made a bad decision; a lot of bad decisions. I'm paying for it online."
Quinn claimed that in the heat of the moment, he only noticed a baseball glove and "didn't know it was a little girl" who was wearing it. Whether or not that explanation satisfies critics, the incident serves as a reminder that sportsmanship—both on and off the field—matters, especially when young fans are watching.