Jerk holds player's first HR ball for ransom

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If it was a player's first HR ball, I'd give it to them without question. I'd just want to do it in person and probably ask for a photo. I'm sure that the player would offer something in exchange and I'd accept, but there wouldn't be any "demands."

 

 

Well, I know this for a fact being as I was probably at most 10 people away from the guy who ended up getting* Theriot's 1st major league HR . They offered him a choice of 3 things, a signed ball by the entire team. A signed greg maddux jersey or a signed glove by Lee.

 

 

I'd have taken the team signed ball without question! But the Maddux jersey would have been tempting.

[illiniguy]

Pudge got 300 back today. For him I would have thrown it on on to the street behing the stadium.

[Clem Fandango]

How does he average getting 7 balls a game? I'd be pumped if I even got one in my lifetime.

 

In an interview with that other guy I keep mentioning, he said he brings a jersey and hat for each team at the game, begs for balls from the bullpen by clamoring them talking about how they're huge fans (they're not), and they also push and shove on BP home runs in order to get them. Like I said before the guy in the interview sorta shoved a kid aside to try and get a ball. They're scum.

 

On that HappyYoungster site it shows him using a glove trick where he puts a glove on a string that I suppose when you pull on it closes, and he lowered it into a concourse on the field where a stray ball was to pick it up.

 

They have no mercy or regard for anyone except themselves when trying to get these things. They're P's of S

[Derwood]

The best thing for these players to do is to call the guy's bluff; clearly, the guy covets a signed game bat or whatever more than the ball, so if you say, "Nah, that's cool, you keep it," I'm sure he'd be spinning his wheels trying to negotiate a lesser deal

[SouthSideRyan]

You'll have a hard time finding anyone who Brewers fans despise more right now than this guy.

 

That's cause you guys have only had Casey McGehee for a couple months.

[Brian]

I was in the bleachers when Aramis hit #200, and somehow a guy new it was his 200th. The ball bounced onto the street and the guy went to the back fence and offered (i think) $50 to the guy that got it on the street. He threw the money down, and the guy threw it up. Cubs people soon came looking for who got it (I didn't think 200 would be a big deal). I can't remember what the Cubs offer was, but I think all the guy wanted was to personally give it to him and get a pic and an autographed ball or something. I think they were going to do whatever after the game so I don't know what he actually got. His friends were idiots though, and were berating him the whole rest of the game to demand something ridiculous like thousands of dollars and premium tickets.

[MWV]

In the midst of this conversation, I can't help recalling Brickhouse's call of Bank's 500th home run. I don't remember the exact wording of Jack's call, but believe he says, "the ball is thrown in to the bullpen". This occurs seconds after the ball was hit out to left center. At that point in the history of the game, I believe Ernie was one of only 9 players to have accomplished 500 HRs, and yet the ball was surrendered to him without a second thought. It would appear that times have changed a great deal...

[jersey cubs fan]

In the midst of this conversation, I can't help recalling Brickhouse's call of Bank's 500th home run. I don't remember the exact wording of Jack's call, but believe he says, "the ball is thrown in to the bullpen". This occurs seconds after the ball was hit out to left center. At that point in the history of the game, I believe Ernie was one of only 9 players to have accomplished 500 HRs, and yet the ball was surrendered to him without a second thought. It would appear that times have changed a great deal...

 

Players didn't make that much money and fans didn't pay much to see the games either. The stakes have been raised on all sides.

[MWV]

In the midst of this conversation, I can't help recalling Brickhouse's call of Bank's 500th home run. I don't remember the exact wording of Jack's call, but believe he says, "the ball is thrown in to the bullpen". This occurs seconds after the ball was hit out to left center. At that point in the history of the game, I believe Ernie was one of only 9 players to have accomplished 500 HRs, and yet the ball was surrendered to him without a second thought. It would appear that times have changed a great deal...

 

Players didn't make that much money and fans didn't pay much to see the games either. The stakes have been raised on all sides.

 

True... not trying to sound like a weepy old-timer, the thought just occured to me.

[mjohnson71]

If I caught a player's first home run (assuming I knew it was his first) I would most likely throw it back immediately.

 

Bingo.

 

I was in Cincinnati a few years ago at a Reds/Braves game when someone on the Braves hit their first homerun into right field. I was close to the field and it was a small enough crowd that I could hear the 1st base coach yelling to the right fielder to ask for the ball back.

 

It was cool to watch the fans throw the ball to the rightfielder, the fielder throw to 3rd base and the 3rd baseman toss it into the visitors dugout.

[Butterscup1679666578]

If I ever catch someone's first home run ball I'm going to ask to play third base during the next game or I'm gonna keep the ball.

[treebird]

If I ever catch someone's first home run ball I'm going to ask to play third base during the next game or I'm gonna keep the ball.

 

and then when god kills you with a line drive it will be on sportscenter's top plays every night for a month

[brewersbrewers]

This loser is a member of brewerfan.net and a few days ago he mad a post trying to tell his side of the story, it was kind of weak and members really gave it to him, the guy is a jerk. also there is a youtube video of him at spring training this year jumping over 2 hot women to catch a ball.

[Eric Clipperton]

The guy is SUCH a tool. Brewers fans online seem to rightly be embarrassed at this clown, and the saddest part is looking at the pathetic comments on his blog from the army of followers who worship at the altar of this ballhawking douchecanoe. Somehow he already procreated, which finding out this news left my mind boggled.

[Butterscup1679666578]

If I ever catch someone's first home run ball I'm going to ask to play third base during the next game or I'm gonna keep the ball.

 

and then when god kills you with a line drive it will be on sportscenter's top plays every night for a month

 

Looks like I'm winning twice in this deal.

[erik316wttn]

This loser is a member of brewerfan.net and a few days ago he mad a post trying to tell his side of the story, it was kind of weak and members really gave it to him, the guy is a jerk. also there is a youtube video of him at spring training this year jumping over 2 hot women to catch a ball.

 

I remember that. That was him? Geez.

 

Although, I think the ball was going to hit one of those lovely ladies. I'd have at least asked for her phone number for saving her life. ;)

[biittner77]

I remember during thr HR chase McGuire saying that the going rate for a HR ball was a signed ball, bat and Jersey. That seems like a pretty good deal for both sides. If I caught a milestone HR ball I'd want a photo with the player as proof.