By Ben Cosman

Trade is one of the fundamental functions of the global economy: If Country A has an abundance of resources Country B wants, and Country B has something that Country A wants, the two countries trade. It’s one of the first things you learn in Econ 101.

During Thursday night’s Mets-Reds game, Brandon Phillips lived this economic principle. You see, baseballs are a surplus commodity inside an MLB dugout; Phillips has access to more baseballs than he needs. It would be great if he could trade a few for something he doesn’t have — say, delicious candy.
Enter these children at Great American Ball Park, who had plenty of cotton candy, but a dearth of baseballs.

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