Dad of the Year? Local Colorado Rockies fan makes one-handed catch while holding toddler
Apr 20, 2026, 9:20 AM
Move over, Statcast. We’ve found the most impressive play of the season, and it didn’t involve a gold-glove shortstop or a triple-digit fastball.
During a recent Colorado Rockies game, local dad Josh Tartler proved that parenting and baseball fandom aren’t mutually exclusive—provided you have nerves of steel and decent hand-eye coordination.
With his 15-month-old daughter, Lily, perched securely in his arms, Tartler managed to snag a scorching foul ball with his bare hand. While most of us would have been busy shielding our faces or dropping a $14 beer, Tartler made the grab look like a routine pop-up.
The crowd at Coors Field erupted, and honestly? Same.
As a mom of two little girls, I’m equal parts impressed and horrified. I struggle to hold a lukewarm coffee and a toddler at the same time without needing a nap, yet here is Josh, playing backyard hero in the middle of a major league stadium.
Was it the most responsible parenting move? My internal “Mom-Alarm” is definitely chirping a little bit. But you have to admit, it’s a pretty legendary core memory for that little girl—even if she has absolutely no idea what just happened.
The announcers were floored, and honestly, the Rockies could probably use his reflexes in the outfield right about now.
Cheers to you, Josh. You’ve officially set the bar impossibly high for all the other dads in the bleachers. Just maybe leave the bare-handed heroics to the pros next time, okay? My heart rate can’t take it.
