Irs Checks Its Swing

Wed., Sept. 9, 1998

Recognizing a bad call, the Internal Revenue Service said Tuesday any baseball fan returning any record-setting home run ball hit by Mark McGwire or Sammy Sosa will not feel a tax pinch. “Sometimes pieces of the tax code can be as hard to understand as the infield fly rule,” said IRS Commissioner Charles Rossotti. “All I know is that the fan who gives back a home run ball deserves a round of applause, not a big tax bill.” Earlier IRS statements had indicated that the valuable baseballs would be subject to hefty gift taxes if returned to the sluggers. But if a fan sells or keeps one of the balls, it still will be subject to either income or estate taxes. Mike Davidson, who caught McGwire’s record-tying 61st home run ball on Monday, said he’ll give the ball back to the St. Louis slugger. McGwire’s record-setting 62nd home run ball was picked up Tuesday night by Tim Forneris, a member of the Cardinals’ grounds crew, who also said he will give it to McGwire.

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Irs Checks Its Swing

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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