4-year-old will get ball, letter of apology from fan

The Texas baseball fan who prompted a public outcry when he knocked aside a 4-year-old to get a foul ball now says he will give the ball to the youngster.

Matt Starr has also agreed to send a letter of apology to the family of Nick O’Brien and buy his family tickets to future Texas Rangers games, club official John Blake said Wednesday.

“The fan let it be known to us that he wanted to give the ball back, and we informed the family that it indeed is going to happen,” said Blake, Rangers senior vice president.

Club spokesman Gregg Elkin said the Rangers did not orchestrate Starr’s decision.

“He did this on his own, through an intermediary,” Elkin said. “Someone that knows him said, ‘Hey, he wants to do this, can you help him get it to the O’Briens?’ and that’s all we’re doing.”

No one answered the telephone at Starr’s home on Wednesday evening, and he has not publicly responded to the criticism.