The “Baseball Rule” is an established legal doctrine that says, in so many words, fans are responsible for their own safety when they enter the ballpark — including protecting themselves from injuries sustained as a result of foul balls flying into the spectator areas.
Exceptions to the rule have been made for some fans who pursue legal action against major league teams after being injured by foul balls. Generally speaking, Major League Baseball teams are sensitive to the needs of fans who are struck by foul balls, placing EMT personnel in the stands, training ushers to respond to fans who might have been injured, and in some cases offering autographed baseball memorabilia as a token of goodwill.
In the case of Toronto Blue Jays fan Liz McGuire, a foul ball that clocked her on the forehead in a recent game turned into something entirely unexpected: her own baseball card.
TORONTO, ON – MAY 18: Bo Bichette #11 of Toronto Blue Jays takes batting practice before playing the Tampa Bay Rays in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on May 18, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A fan who took a Bo Bichette foul ball to the head is getting her own trading card.
Mark Blinch/Getty Images
McGuire attended the Jays’ 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays last Friday at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. After being hit by a foul ball struck by the Jays’ Bo Bichette, McGuire posted a photo of the resulting injuries to her Twitter/X account. The original post currently has more than 10,000 retweets and 165,000 likes:
The Blue Jays’ response was swift. So was the response from the trading card company Topps:
𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡: We made a custom Topps Now trading card of Liz McGuire: the fan who took a 110MPH Bo Bichette foul ball to the head and STAYED AT THE GAME.
We produced exactly 110 copies, and we’re gifting them all to @lizzzzzzzzzzy.
Liz, you’re a champ! 👑❤️ pic.twitter.com/7B9eKyharg
— Topps (@Topps) May 20, 2024
“We made a custom Topps Now trading card of Liz McGuire: the fan who took a 110 MPH Bo Bichette foul ball to the head and STAYED AT THE GAME,” read the Twitter/X post from Topps’ official account. “We produced exactly 110 copies, and we’re gifting them all to @lizzzzzzzzzzy . Liz, you’re a champ!”
Subsequently, McGuire announced she would auction some of the cards to benefit the Holland Bloorview Pediatric Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto:
On the surface, at least, it seems everyone’s heart is in the right place. Topps is not looking to profit (or make light of) an injured fan. Neither is McGuire looking to maximize profits from the unexpected production of her trading card. If her heart emojis are any indication, McGuire isn’t holding on to any unpleasant feelings toward Bichette, either.
It seems McGuire learned a valuable lesson the hard way: keep your head up.
“It was so fast! I just turned away for a second! it could happen to anyone!” she posted on her Twitter/X account.
it was so fast! i just turned away for a second! it could happen to anyone!
— Liz McGuire (@lizzzzzzzzzzy) May 20, 2024
One piece of advice might be in order: wear a helmet to batting practice.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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