Expert: Jamie Selko - 7/28/2007

Question
i've been told that fans can keep balls hit into stands only because a fan in nyc sued to keep one back in the early 1900's. any truth to it?

Answer
On 16 May, 1921, Giants fan Reuben Berman caught a foul ball in the Polo Grounds during a Giant-Redlegs game.  He did indeed sue to keep it.
I got this information from a research piece by David Mandrel in the 2005 edition of The National Pastime, a SABR (Society of American Baseball Research) publication.  Might I suggest that, if your baseball interests run so deep as to ask such a question, you consider joining SABR- I've been a member since 1976. (If you do join, please tell them that Jamie S. (c'est moi) directed you to the organization).