Matthew Taylor: Random acts of ballpark kindness

Have you experienced a random act of ballpark kindness? Better yet, have you performed one? It seems we've heard much in recent years about boorish ballpark behavior. The most publicized incidents have involved fights between opposing fans that resulted in serious injuries. It's enough to make even the most dedicated fan consider passing up on the peanuts and Cracker Jack and decide to never go back. Less publicized are the simple kindnesses shared between strangers that add to the fun of root, root, rooting for the home team, or even the visiting one for that matter. My cousin and her husband recently enjoyed a baseball weekend in Atlanta. During their visit, they ended up with a free return trip to the ballpark on Saturday night thanks to a generous woman who sat near them on Friday night. Hearing about their experience reminded me of the times I've benefited from a stranger's generosity at a baseball game. Free tickets? That happened to me in San Francisco during a visit to what was then known as Pac Bell Park. My friend and I were waiting in line for bleacher seats, which at the time were only sold on the day of the game and provided one of the few avenues into the sold-out stadium for visitors like me. A guy approached us asking if we needed tickets. We assumed he was a scalper until he handed us his tickets and walked away. We hardly had a chance to say thank you before he was gone. Free tickets and a soda? That happened to that same friend and me at Camden Yards. We were looking to buy tickets to a sold out game when a season-ticket holder and his young son approached us with two extras. We ended up sitting next to them behind the third base dugout. He bought us a soda during his mid-game visit to the concessions stand. Then there are the less spontaneous, but still meaningful moments. Rain delayed my son's first game at Camden Yards; he never actually saw a pitch thrown. It proved to be a disappointing evening for this proud father, as I eagerly anticipated a memory that never materialized. I will remember, however, the ballpark employee who gave my son a giant Orioles lollipop. My wife and I gladly amended our teachings: Don't take candy from strangers ... unless they have ballpark credentials. I'm sorry to report that I don't have nearly as many stories about my own charitable acts toward my fellow fans. The best I can offer is a few home run balls that I gave away to kids during an unusually successful batting practice session in the Wrigley Field bleachers. I have some work to do when it comes to acts of ballpark kindness, which is one of many reasons I'll keep going back. Have a story of ballpark kindnesses given or received? Share it in the comment section below. Matthew Taylor blogs about the Orioles at Roar from 34. Follow him on Twitter: @RoarFrom34. His ruminations about the Birds appear as part of MASNsports.com's season-long initiative of welcoming guest bloggers to our site. All opinions expressed are those of the guest bloggers, who are not employed by MASNsports.com but are just as passionate about their baseball as our roster of writers.