Right now the Phillies are 1-1 in the playoffs facing the Rockies. But they just lost a game of baseball with a little girl, and they should have.
This past summer Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies hit his 200th home run. A feat in itself, but for Howard, he did it faster than any other ball player. He could be the next all time home run hitter at this pace. The ball has value to Howard, to anyone holding it.
But when he hit this particular ball out of the park, it landed in the hands Jennifer Vildivia an innocent 12 year old girl, she only valued it as 'her ball'. That night Phillies officials sent stadium security to her and offered her a meeting with the slugger after he had signed it if she'd hand it over. She knew no better and did as the adults told. Then... they gave her another ball and some cotton candy. No meeting with Howard either.
Now... as a long time Phillies fan, I'm ashamed of the team. I'm ashamed of baseball to do this to a little girl. But this story does have a happy ending. The little girl's wonderful and strong mother took up a crusade for her child to get the 'real ball' back to her little girl. At each stage the Phillies balked and played hard ball with the family. They were constantly offered anything but the real ball.
Finally after securing an attorney, the families' threats of a major lawsuit resulted in the immediate return of the 'real ball' in a case. Ryan Howard will hit other homers and set more records. This little girl doesn't plan to get rich off the ball, and even if she does... that's her business. She caught the ball, it's her ball.
Jennifer Vildivia's attorney Kent tells the story in his own words below.
