Lawsuit retrieves child's home run ball

• Tweet

MIAMI, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia Phillies resolved a lawsuit by returning the landmark home run ball caught by a 12-year-old fan in Miami.

The family of Jennifer Valdivia filed a lawsuit after the Phillies refused to give her back the ball Ryan Howard had hit for his 200th career home run.

The Miami Herald said Jennifer caught the ball when it landed in the seats at Land Shark Stadium earlier this season. A team representative supposedly fast-talked her into trading it for an autographed team ball, which the family contends is worth much less than the Howard home run ball.

The Valdivias hired an attorney and baseball memorabilia enthusiast who tried to negotiate a return of the ball and finally forced the team's hand with a lawsuit filed Monday.

The Herald said the Phillies front office declined comment on the legal tussle, saying they were busy getting ready for the playoffs.