The video you’re about to watch spent most of yesterday afternoon being spread and shared around the Internet, and after so much of our coverage lately centering around spoiled kids and wretched adults who get what they want by bitching and complaining I wanted to put the spotlight on this — a nice adult and a grateful kid, and the way sports and fandom should work.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett finished his warmup tosses before Thursday’s game against the Kansas City Royals and walked over to a young fan, presenting him with a baseball. The kid’s reaction should make you smile, no matter how much your jaded Internet heart wants to start photoshopping him into things.

The event became so popular so quickly that NESN invited the boy and his family into their studio to talk about it, and that’s where we learn the best part. The kid was at the park with his father and grandfather, and it was the first time the three generations of his family had been to a ballgame together. Argh, my heart. You can watch that video after the jump.

When I was seven years old I went to Memorial Stadium with my Dad. Ray Knight walked by (because I’m old, you have to remember). I loved Ray Knight, so I took my Dad’s advice about politely addressing ballplayers and yelled “MR. KNIGHT, WOULD YOU PLEASE SIGN MY PROGRAM?” He was walking away, but gave me a little gesture and said he’d be back over after warmups. I was the only kid standing there in my big stupid oversized Orioles helmet, so I thought that was the end of the story. Warmups happen and a crowd gathers. Knight finished up and walked a straight line back to me, signed my program and ignored everybody else.

So I kinda know how this kid feels. Although nobody asked me to be on television.

[h/t Big League Stew]