After the record-breaking Mark McGwire home runs years ago, the IRS went after the people who ended up with the balls, arguing that even if they didn't sell them, the balls represented reportable income. Just another thing to think about.

Given that the guy who caught the Albert Pujols ball donated it to a 501c3, there's really not much to think about.

He gets to deduct the whole value, though, right?

Yes, his income increases by whatever the value of the ball is when he takes ownership of the ball and he deducts the same amount when he donates it to a 501c3. How else could that possibly work?

Obviously, the deduction cannot reach any of his other income, because it is, by definition, consumed by the value of the ball.

Under a truly strict reading of the law, there might be some problems since the guy might not itemize deductions, in which case there's a pretty modest limit to the total value of charitable deductions he can make, which he might not have declared anyhow. Which might or might not be a problem depending on the dollar value of the ball he received and immediately gave away, if the whole thing came to the attention of the IRS. They theoretically might potentially want him to refile and itemize his deductions if they had an opinion about the value of the ball, and that refiling could affect his refund for that year by a small amount.

This all falls pretty firmly in the "who gives a shit?" area of tax law.

You’re right. Misremembered the case where the ball had appreciated. Same behavior.

And he didn't just fall through the bridge, he dusted himself off and went to the game anyways! Guy didn't even go to the hospital for days despite being obviously concussed...

Funny thing about brain injuries... we don't always make the best decisions in their aftermath.

I have to disagree as you have no evidence to support your position.

Based on the information provided, it seems highly unlikely to me that a guy who passed up an easy payday for a baseball would get an attorney friend to lie for what is likely going to be a very small claim. He still attended the game, and another game a couple days later, which likely rules out substantial suffering. So, given the low potential payout what would be his motivation? Simplest explanation is the guy just fell through an ill-maintained bridge. Could happen to anyone, really!

What a shitty thing for you to say.

He also lost his 21 month old son in 2018. Poor guy.