Rewarding home runs?

My college son hit a walk off HR in today's game.  He gave it to the local second grader that was hanging around after the game and they had their picture taken together.   That's what warms a mom's heart.  Priceless.

When my boys were younger we would go watch free baseball at the local college nearby.  We would sit in the outfield and they would run for those home run balls.  One game a dad offered my son $5 for his son's HR ball.   My son looked at me in shock when I said nope, and hand over the ball to the dad.

Interesting topic.  My son who is 15u now was playing Little League (mostly parks with no fences) and literally hit a HR every other at bat.  The coach gave him the first few than ran out of balls. At 15u he's hit several 380+ over the fence type in HS and on summer travel teams and doesn't want them.  My 12u has hit 12 over 200-250-the fences and also has one off a 300 foot fence where there was a play at the plate and he was safe. That was the only one he wanted because it was a legit bomb for a 12u.  I think it depends on the kid. 

My 2018 hit his first home run in years the other night — a 3-run bomb. I wasn't there — he had asked me to pick up a baseball fan who has disabilities and can't get to the games unless someone takes him. So I did.

Asked son after the game if someone had gotten the ball for him. Nah, he said, I don't need it. Then asked about the fan. Having that guy at the game wasn't a reward, but it made him just as happy as the homer.