Story behind man ripping World Series ball out of fan's hand

Kirk Head (left) ripped the home run ball out of his sister-in-law Sarah Head's hands and threw it back onto the field in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night. Kirk Head (left) ripped the home run ball out of his sister-in-law Sarah Head's hands and threw it back onto the field in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night. Photo: FOX Photo: FOX Image 1 of / 389 Caption Close Story behind man ripping World Series ball out of fan's hand 1 / 389 Back to Gallery

When FOX cameras caught an Astros fan ripping a Dodgers home run ball out of another's fan hands and throwing it back onto the field, it seemed for sure there would be a fight in the stands - or at the very least two people who wouldn't be talking to each other for a long time.

Instead, just an inning later, they were laughing about it.

It helps that Sarah Head and Kirk Head are in-laws and that Sarah has a sense of humor.

When Yasiel Puig hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning that cut the Astros' Game 5 lead to 12-11, Sarah wound up with the ball. She briefly celebrated her prize. Very briefly. Kirk reached around his brother and snatched the ball out of Sarah's hands and threw it back on the field.

Buddy’s wife caught a World Series home run ball and his friend STOLE IT AND THREW IT BACK! pic.twitter.com/Maaq8zj8Ia — Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) October 30, 2017

It's a Minute Maid Park tradition that all home runs from the visiting team get thrown back.

EARLIER IN THE GAME: Fan throws back World Series ball: "It wasn't the home run ball I wanted

Sarah knew all about that tradition and was totally cool with it.

"I just would have liked to have been able to throw it back myself," Sarah said.

Kirk said he didn't have the patience to wait on Sarah, especially with his Astros in the process of blowing a three-run lead.

"It's bad karma to keep it," Kirk said. "You've got to throw it back. I was just making sure she did."