Not so fast, kid! Better wear the right gear when angling for souvenirs

Baseball has finally returned for the 2026 season. So, too, have the ample opportunities to make a lifelong memory in and around the ballpark. That could be from a batted ball that finds the stands, a warmup ball tossed to a fan, a signed piece of memorabilia or a photo with your favorite player.

But some of these things have a prerequisite. You’ve gotta be cheering for the right team.

A young Cardinals fan learned that lesson the hard way Sunday at the … Cubs vs. Nationals game?!

Washington outfielder Jacob Young pulled a Phil Maton pitch foul and toward the third-base dugout during the sixth inning of an eventual 6-3 Nationals win. The ball found its way into the hands of Cubs and Marquee field reporter Taylor McGregor, who almost immediately turned to find a fan to whom she could deliver the gift.

You can hear the kid excitedly say “Right here! Right here!” (as we all have, right?) on the broadcast as McGregor starts to walk to the ledge overhanging the camera well. Then hits the moment of realization, with the fan and his group all dressed in St. Louis gear.

“You’re a Cardinal fan!” McGregor exclaimed. She turned and tossed the ball in another direction, presumably to a different young fan who came properly prepared in Cubbie blue attire.

Cubs play-by-play man Jon Sciambi and color commentator Jim Deshaies ate the moment up. They cackled on the broadcast, and Sciambi yelled, “Way to go, Taylor!”

Fans wearing clothing of a team that isn’t involved in the game they’re attending isn’t a new concept. That’s especially true at such a historic ballpark like Wrigley Field, where people flock from all over to get a glimpse.

But making your support so clear, especially when it’s for an archrival, is a surefire way to dash your hopes at any goodwill from the team -- even from the team’s broadcasting crew.