{"id":250072,"date":"2026-04-28T19:38:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T19:38:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/250072\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T19:38:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T19:38:18","slug":"guardians-fan-eventually-returns-ball-he-stole-from-little-girl-as-he-gets-shamed-off-social-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/250072\/","title":{"rendered":"Guardians fan eventually returns ball he stole from little girl as he gets shamed off social media"},"content":{"rendered":"

An adult male Cleveland Guardians fan who took a home run ball from a young girl <\/a>during Monday\u2019s game against the Tampa Bay Rays returned it at the end of the game, the girl\u2019s mom, Nikki DeVore, shared in a Facebook post. <\/a><\/p>\n

The adult fan, who is said to be Max Quinn<\/a>, has since deleted his social media<\/a>, according to BroBible<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cDude gave the home run ball back to her last inning,\u201d DeVore wrote, including a smiling photo of her daughter with the home run ball in her glove at Progressive Field. <\/p>\n

\"AA young Cleveland Guardians fan went viral after an adult male fan took a home run ball from her during Monday\u2019s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. X<\/p>\n

The male fan dropped the home run ball \u2014 which was hit to right field by the Guardians\u2019 Daniel Schneemann in the bottom of the fifth inning \u2014 and it bounced near the girl, who was chasing it in the stands.<\/p>\n

He ran over to her and ripped it out of her hands. <\/p>\n

\"AnAn adult male Cleveland Guardians who took a home run ball from a young girl during Monday\u2019s game against the Tampa Bay Rays returned it at the end of the game, the girl\u2019s mom, Nikki DeVore, shared in a Facebook post. X<\/p>\n

\u201cCleveland Mom Here,\u201d DeVore wrote<\/a> in a separate post on the Tampa Bay Rays Fan Club Facebook page. \u201cYou all watched the man steal the ball from my daughter. You know my son went to ask him for the ball, which was so brave. I just have to say thank you to Tampa for broadcasting it, when the Cleveland broadcast cut to puppies rather than show the man stealing the ball from a child.<\/p>\n

\u201cI cannot thank [Rays reporter] Ryan [Bass] and Tampa enough for making things right. Thank you all for looking out for ALL young baseball fans. It is top notch sportsmanship. My daughter and I cried happy tears. I am so proud of my kids for how they handled tonight, and so proud of Tampa and its fans for standing up for my child.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pressure resulted in the man giving her the home run ball back 4-5 innings later towards the end of the game. It wasn\u2019t the same, but we appreciated him doing the right thing\u2026 I may be Ohio Grown and forever Cleveland (Jose!!!!) but I will be a Tampa fan on principle alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rays reporter Ryan Bass delivered baseballs to the little girl and her brother <\/a>after the Tampa Bay broadcasters were stunned over the moment, which was captured on the live broadcast. <\/p>\n

Bass reshared DeVore\u2019s message in a post on X<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cLove y\u2019all. Appreciate all of the sincere messages and notes,\u201d Bass wrote. \u201cWe got the chance to make a sweet little girl\u2019s night. There\u2019s nothing better. <\/p>\n

\u201cKindness is free. Always remember that. See y\u2019all on Rays TV at 6:00 tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Says he gave the ball back? No one cares. Had to take a picture for social media while the girl cried. <\/p>\n

Should have let the kid have the ball in the first place. pic.twitter.com\/TjpfPlNX8P<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tyler Garret Smith (@ArenaFanatic) April 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The male fan apparently shared a photo of the home run ball and explained that he gave the ball back to the girl before deleting his account.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe part you didn\u2019t see, was me giving the ball to the little girl,\u201d he allegedly wrote. \u201cJust because I got the ball doesn\u2019t mean I ended up with the ball.\u201d <\/p>\n

The Rays went on to win the game 3-2.<\/p>\n

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