PHOTO GALLERY: Ballhawker Phil Joens collects baseballs at Taylor Stadium

By GARY COTTON/Missourian

April 26, 2012 | 12:01 a.m. CDT

MU freshman Phil Joens spends much of his time "ballhawking," a hobby shared by many others who collect foul and lost baseballs at stadiums. Joens said he collects an average of seven to eight baseballs at every Missouri game at Taylor Stadium.

MU student and ballhawker Phil Joens collects an average of seven to eight baseballs at every Missouri game. | GARY COTTON/Missourian

Phil Joens said one of the problems he has at Taylor Stadium is that he’s banned from jumping fences. After misjudging a ball’s trajectory, he marooned on the track and lost a foul ball to children.
| GARY COTTON/Missourian

Phil Joens has a special place in his collection for this season’s Big 12 baseballs. The baseballs are all the more valuable with Missouri’s move to the SEC next season.

| GARY COTTON/Missourian

Phil Joens stands watch in the stands at a recent game. The freshman journalism student often wears his high school T-shirt and a baseball cap to look younger and get more tosses from players and coaches.
| GARY COTTON/Missourian