WCWS ushers pride themselves on tracking down home run balls and returning them to the families of the players who hit them.
The WCWS staff and ushers aren’t exactly sure when the tradition started, just that it’s beloved and something they hope never changes. Mary Koch, who was working along the first-base dugout on Thursday, said this is her 20th season and it was already a part of her duties when she got the job.
Most fans are aware of the tradition, and even those who aren’t become happy to play along when they learn it’s a rite of passage.