How To Get A Ball At American Family Field

American Family Field belongs to a select group of MLB facilities at which it’s possible to snag a batting practice home run before you enter the park. This phenomenon is common in the minor leagues, but rare in the big leagues. If you get to American Family Field before the gates open, walk around the park until you come across the windows and open spaces that are located roughly at the end of the pedestrian bridge that runs between the ballpark and parking lots, spanning American Family Field Way. You’ll see windows on the ground level but openings above, and long home runs — if they bounce off the concourse in the right way — have the ability to leave the building via these openings. Stand well back and keep your eyes open — you may be able to snag a souvenir.

Another unique way that you may be able to get a souvenir baseball is to do so while dining at the T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant inside of American Family Field. It opens for fans before the ballpark’s gates, and if you manage to line up early enough, you can get a table that is situated directly above the left field fence. It’s an entertaining experience to sit in a traditional restaurant environment and hope to catch a home run baseball, and no visit to American Family Field is complete without the Friday’s experience. Friday’s is found a short walk to the left side of the American Family Field sign; you can’t miss it, because you’ll almost certainly see a line of fans in the area.

Otherwise, the standard approach to snagging a batting practice ball at American Family Field is the same as at most MLB facilities. You want to get in as soon as the gates open and find a place in the outfield seats or in foul territory and hope that a ball comes your way. A similar premise holds true for collecting autographs, although you’ll want to focus on standing around the dugouts or down the base lines, rather than position yourself in the outfield. If you’d rather buy an autograph, a game-used ball, or any other type of game-used memorabilia, look for the Brewers Authentics kiosk at Section 109.