Phillies fan who snatched kid’s home run ball now offered $5,000— viral controversy and twist explained

The Philadelphia Phillies fan viral incident involving a disputed home run ball is still making headlines. It began as an ugly confrontation in the stands and later transformed into a bizarre saga involving money, humiliation, and one young fan’s birthday wish.

A trading card company has stepped in with a $5,000 offer for the ball, but only if the woman at the center of the controversy inscribes it with an embarrassing apology.

Blowout Cards wants the Harrison Bader home run ball back for Lincoln Feltwell

Blowout Cards, a leading sports collectibles retailer, announced it wants the Harrison Bader home run ball returned to 10-year-old Phillies fan Lincoln Feltwell. But the company attached a very specific condition to its $5,000 offer.“Attention Karen: We will pay you $5,000 for the ball, we only ask that you autograph it ‘I’m sorry,’” the company wrote on X.

They wrote on their website, “Our offer is official and the offer is firm.”

The unusual demand follows the now-infamous Philadelphia Phillies fan viral incident on September 5 during a 9-3 win over the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park. Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader smashed a solo homer into the left-field stands. Drew Feltwell, attending the game with his family to celebrate Lincoln’s birthday, secured the ball and proudly placed it into his son’s glove.

“I felt like Superdad putting that ball in his glove and giving him a hug,” he told NBC10.But the moment soured quickly. A woman in Phillies gear confronted Feltwell, yelling, “that’s my ball!” After a tense exchange, the father surrendered the ball to avoid conflict. “She was very, very, very close, and I’m dad of the family so I didn’t want to do something I regret. That was the choice I made. I handed the ball back and told her to go away,” he explained.

Phillies, Marlins, and Harrison Bader rally to support Lincoln Feltwell

The confrontation, captured on live broadcast and circulated widely online, instantly painted the woman as the villain of the Philadelphia Phillies fan viral incident. But Lincoln did not leave the ballpark disappointed.The Miami Marlins gifted Lincoln and his sister a merchandise bag, drawing cheers from nearby fans. The Philadelphia Phillies also stepped in, arranging for Lincoln to meet Harrison Bader after the game.

The outfielder gave the young fan a signed bat, creating a moment that softened the sting of losing the ball.Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis added to the story, offering the Feltwell family a trip to the World Series and even awarding them an RV.

Meanwhile, online sleuths worked overtime to uncover the woman’s identity, sparking false rumors that forced a New Jersey school district to deny any connection. In a tongue-in-cheek statement, they said, “Anyone who works for our school district, attended as a student or lives in our community would obviously have caught the ball bare-handed in the first place, avoiding this entire situation.”Despite the chaos, Drew Feltwell believes the night ended on a positive note. “I wish I had the ball for my son to put in his room next to the bat, but if I had the ball, I probably wouldn’t have gotten the bat, so it worked out fine,” he admitted.Also Read: “I met her years ago but…” – Rampage Jackson showers high praise for former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion after their recent chatNow, the Harrison Bader home run ball sits at the center of a $5,000 offer, but only if the Phillies fan who took it swallows her pride and signs it with two simple words: “I’m sorry.” Will she? It would be interesting to see.