ballcatchers.com
A home run is perfect.
A home run is a gift.
A home run is history.
And sometimes history picks you.
A home run is a gift.
A home run is history.
And sometimes history picks you.
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50/50 club home run ball
Who Caught the Ball?
Chris Belanski
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What's the Story?
Shohei Ohtani made baseball history on September 19, 2024, when he hit three home runs and stole two bases in a game against the Miami Marlins, further solidifying his extraordinary status in the sport. Ohtani's 50th home run came in the seventh inning, an opposite-field, two-run shot off Marlins reliever Mike Baumann.Fox Sports 640's Andy Slater reported that the Dodgers initially offered the fan who caught Ohtani's 50th home run ball $300,000, but the fan declined. Goldin Auctions later confirmed the offer and revealed that the fan chose to consign the ball for auction, with a starting bid of $500,000 and an option to buy it outright for $4.5 million. Ken Goldin, founder of Goldin Auctions, explained, "The auction route was the best option. Ohtani is likely going to be the MVP, the Dodgers are heading to the playoffs, and with our global reach, it's possible the ball could be won by someone outside the U.S." However, the auction has been complicated by a lawsuit filed by another fan, Max Matus, who claims to be the rightful owner of the ball. Matus, who was at the game celebrating his 18th birthday, said he initially caught the ball but had it wrestled away by an older man, identified as Chris Belanski. Matus filed a civil lawsuit in Florida's 11th Judicial Circuit Court, seeking to halt the auction and reclaim the ball, arguing that it was "forcefully taken" from him. The lawsuit alleges that Matus had successfully grabbed the ball with his left hand when Belanski, described as "muscular," trapped Matus' arm between his legs and took the ball. It states that Belanski "wrongfully and forcefully obtained control of the ball and was escorted out of the stands by security, with the 50/50 Ball Plaintiff had possessed now in Belanski's (wrongful) possession." John Uustal, founding partner at the law firm representing Matus, commented: "This is not some scrum on a football field where the law doesn’t apply because the players have voluntarily agreed that they are allowed to hit each other. In the stands, once someone has the ball, it’s not legal for someone to take it. Max is a high school kid; it was his birthday. A bigger, stronger adult can’t take the ball away and pretend it’s his." The lawsuit, which also names Kelvin Ramirez, seeks to stop the sale until the court resolves the matter. Despite the legal dispute, Goldin Auctions is proceeding with the auction, although the ball cannot be sold until after a full hearing scheduled for October 10. The ball itself shows black scuffing and surface abrasions, with a scuffed MLB Batter Logo below the "Official Major League Baseball" stamp. An MLB authenticated hologram is also affixed to the ball. |
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Who Caught the Ball?
Dillon Harrell
26, realtor New Caney, Texas
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What's the Story?
In Game 1 of the 2022 ALDS, Yordan Álvarez of the Houston Astros hit a dramatic walk-off three-run home run, giving the Astros an 8-7 win over the Seattle Mariners. The 438-foot shot landed in the upper deck in right field at Minute Maid Park, right where Dillon Harrell, a lifelong Astros fan, was seated with his family and friends. The tickets were a birthday surprise from Harrell's mom, sister, and best friend, who had chosen the seats specifically because Álvarez often hit his big home runs in that area.As the ball approached, Harrell's sister captured the moment on her cellphone, showing the ball heading directly towards them and landing near Harrell. The crowd erupted in chaos, and Harrell, pulled up by his best friend, found himself holding the prized home run ball. Reflecting on the moment, Harrell described it as the craziest and most memorable of his life. Harrell had no intentions of selling the ball, stating he would only give it to Álvarez himself. However, Álvarez, upon learning it was Harrell's birthday, graciously declined the ball, saying through an interpreter, “what better gift than for him to be able to keep the ball.” Before Game 2, Álvarez met Harrell outside Minute Maid Park, signed the home run ball and Harrell's jersey, and gave tickets to Harrell and his family for that afternoon's game. Harrell expressed his amazement and gratitude, calling it a memory of a lifetime. |
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62nd, breaking Roger Maris' single-season AL record
Who Caught the Ball?
Cory Youmans
35, vice president at investment firm Dallas, Texas
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What's the Story?
It all started when a friend offered a ticket to the game and Cory Youmans agreed to go for one particular reason."This game was all about seeing Aaron Judge in person," Youmans said. "I am still in awe of his ability. As a baseball fan and an American, I'm just so happy Aaron is the face of America's pastime. It's his moment, and he's the right man for it." Leading off the second game of a day-night doubleheader, Judge, 30, drove an 88 mph, 1-1 slider from Jesús Tinoco toward the left-field seats. When the ball cleared the infield, Youmans realized it was coming in his direction. He had never caught a baseball at a game. He kept telling himself not to drop it. "I have this fear of ending up on SportsCenter Not Top 10," Youmans said, "so my initial feeling was pure relief that I wasn't the guy that dropped No. 62 or ended up wearing my beer." He did neither. His glove extended in front of one on the hand of a Grand Prairie, Texas, man named Todd Smith, and when the ball popped in it, fans patted Youmans on the back, congratulated him and watched security whisk him toward a room where he paced for a few minutes. Another fan in the front row of the left field stands at Globe Life Field made the split-second decision to leap from his seat down to the ground in hopes that Judge’s home run ball fell in front of the stands, but it did not. The fan was unhurt but was kicked out of the stadium for his actions, the Dallas Morning News reported. Youmans was standing in the first row of standing in Section 31 and caught the ball with his black Mizuno glove. https://www.tiktok.com/@yazzelle7/video/7151002474185313579 Yankees executive director of security Eddie Fastook arrived and said if Youmans wanted to meet Judge and exchange the ball for memorabilia, photographs and tickets, he would be the one to arrange that. Youmans said he preferred not to decide on the spot -- "Eddie is great at his job," he said, "so telling him no was really hard" -- and waited for an authenticator to check the ball. Discussions with a Yankees security official were pleasant, he said, but did not lead to a deal to return the ball to Judge. The special markings on balls thrown to Judge as he approached Roger Maris' record confirmed Youmans was holding No. 62, and an authentication sticker affixed to the ball endorsed that. Asked what he was going to do with the ball, Youmans said, “That’s a good question! I haven’t thought about it!” With the ball verified, Youmans asked if he could leave the stadium. Two security personnel spirited him to a golf cart and drove through the interior of the stadium so Youmans could avoid any hassle. He stopped to meet Rangers owner Ray Davis and president Neil Leibman before departing through the players' entrance. On the drive home, Youmans received a text from Amaranthus asking if he was near their apartment. Someone had shared their address on social media. Rather than stay the night and risk any issues, Youmans and Amaranthus packed their dog in the car and spent a few days at a friend's house. The social media speculation alluding to Youmans' wealth, he said, was spurious. While he does work in financial services, he said, "We are not millionaires, and we enjoy the $3 red blend from Trader Joe's as much as anything." He and Amaranthus, he said, have been saving to buy their first house, and Youmans hopes to build a shop for his grandfather, a retired welder who works on classic cars, recently celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary and had been planning to move. Youmans moved in with his grandparents at 13, he said, and his grandfather delayed retirement to send him to private school, following which Youmans became the first college graduate in his family. After being diagnosed with melanoma earlier this year, Youmans said he and Amaranthus refocused their priorities, vowing to travel the world. "Meeting people from different cultures is a major priority for us at this stage of life," Youmans said, and selling the ball would allow for such adventures. Youmans said he wanted to lend the ball to the Yankees to display during the postseason, "but unfortunately it didn't materialize." He remained silent publicly, he said, not to distract the Yankees during their playoff run, which ended in an American League Championship Series sweep by the Houston Astros. Asked after the 3-2 loss if he’d gotten the ball, Judge said, “not yet.” “I don’t know where it’s at,” he said. “We’ll see what happens with that. It would be great to get it back, but that’s a souvenir for a fan. He made a great catch out there, and they’ve got every right to it.” Soon after a local TV station posted a brief interview with Youmans in a walkway, his wife Bri Amaranthus tweeted: “THIS IS MY HUSBAND.” Amaranthus works in local media as a sports reporter and identifies herself in her Twitter bio as an alum of ABC’s “The Bachelor.” Judge’s 62nd home run ball is worth $2 million, at a minimum. JP Cohen, the president of Memory Lane, put out that offer on the ball before it was even hit. He said his company has a good relationship with the Yankees and it would be willing to loan the ball to the team for an exhibit. He added the team has frequently exhibited items owned by Memory Lane at Yankee Stadium. "We did make an offer of $2 million, and that offer is still valid," Cohen told the Associated Press. “I feel the offer is way above fair, if he is inclined to sell it.” With a starting point of $2 million, the ball could end up breaking another record and sell for more than the $3 million that was paid for Mark McGwire’s record 70th home run from the 1998 season. Youmans told ESPN that "after weeks of a lot of deep conversations" with his wife and his lawyer, Dave Baron, they decided to sell the ball with the Goldin Auctions house. "We've already had an offer for $3 million," said Baron, Youmans' attorney. "Talking to the auction people, they don't really commit to a number, but they said it just could be significantly higher based on New York, the New York fan base and how crazy it could get at an auction." “It seems fair in the sense it gives anyone that is interested and has the means the opportunity to own it," Youmans said. "As a fan, I'm curious to see what it's worth, who buys it and what they do with it.” Ideally, Youmans said, the ball would wind up with Judge, the Yankees or the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but the conduit will need to run through the auction, which Goldin said on its Instagram page would start Nov. 29. Some of the money could find its way to Judge's All Rise Foundation -- similar to the large donations of Philip Ozersky, who caught McGwire's 70th home run and supported multiple charities. Youmans said he contacted the foundation and that its "mission really resonates with me: to inspire children to have hope for their future." "It's a full-circle moment for me," Youmans said, "because 25 years ago, I would have benefited from their help and would love to pay it forward." Judge, speaking to reporters on a conference call after winning the AL MVP award, was told Youmans turned down $3 million for the ball. “That's a lot of money. But I guess he's got a better plan or thinks he can get some more," Judge said. "He caught the ball, he's the one that made the play out there in left field, so it's his right to do what he wants with it. Hopefully he's making the right decision for him and his family.” Judge also said he will not be bidding on the ball, joking, "I haven't signed my free agent deal yet, so I think that's a little out of my price range right now." In December 2022, the ball sold for $1.5 million with a buyer's premium on Saturday night via Goldin, well short of the $3 million preciously offered for it. Cory says he's at peace with how things played out. "Congratulations to Joe! Given the historical significance of #62, it was important to me that the selling process was fair, accessible, and transparent," Youmans said Sunday in a statement. "As this chapter comes to an end and I reflect on catching home run ball #62, I'll always remember the kindness of the fans around me on that exciting night in Arlington," Youmans said. "It was the epitome of how sports brings humans together, and I'll cherish that memory forever.” The buyer has chosen to remain anonymous, but Goldin says the ball was sold to a "prominent Midwestern businessman and collector.” "I am lucky, blessed, and grateful to own a piece of baseball and American history." said in a statement issued through Goldin Auctions. |
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61st, tying Roger Maris' single-season AL record
Who Caught the Ball?
Matt Buschmann
38, Blue Jays bullpen coach |
What's the Story?
On September 28, 2022, Aaron Judge hit his 61st home run of the season, tying Roger Maris' single-season AL record. The historic blast came off a 94 mph sinker from Toronto Blue Jays reliever Tim Mayza in the seventh inning, helping secure an 8-3 victory for the New York Yankees.The ball nearly landed in the stands but instead bounced off the wall and into the Blue Jays' bullpen. Two fans, one wearing a dark blue jersey and another in a light blue jersey, reached for the ball. The fan in dark blue, a Bo Bichette supporter, missed the catch and threw his glove in frustration, while the light-blue-clad fan, identified as 37-year-old Toronto restaurant owner Frankie Lasagna, lamented the missed opportunity, stating he would have kept the ball to negotiate with Judge. Blue Jays bullpen coach Matt Buschmann retrieved the ball and handed it to Yankees pitcher Zack Britton, who ensured it made its way to Judge. Judge then gave the ball to his mom, celebrating the milestone moment with his family. Experts have estimated the ball's value to range between $150,000 and $400,000, though its true worth will remain speculative. |
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700th career home run
Who Caught the Ball?
Marlowe Leal
27 Los Angeles, California
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What's the Story?
In the fourth inning, Pujols drilled an 80.8 mph slider from Phil Bickford high into the night at Dodger Stadium. The ball traveled 389 feet with 5.9 seconds of hang time before landing in the first couple of rows of the left-field pavilion, the same location where his two-run shot had landed in the previous inning.The fan who caught the historic ball chose to remain anonymous and decided to keep the ball. Despite offers and the ball being authenticated, the fan left the stadium with it. Pujols expressed his contentment with the fan's decision, stating, “Souvenirs are for the fans. I don’t have any problem if they want to keep it. If they want to give it back, that’s great. But at the end of the day, I don’t focus on material stuff.” The fan, Marlowe Leal, later co-signed with Goldin Auctions to sell the prized possession. The ball went up for auction on October 25 with a starting bid of $25,000 and ultimately sold on November 5 for $360,000, including the 20% buyer’s premium. The identity of the auction winner remains unknown. Leal plans to donate some of the money to youth baseball programs, acknowledging that the funds are “life-changing” and indicating that a significant portion will go into his bank account. |
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697th career home run, passing Alex Rodriguez's career total
Who Caught the Ball?
Matt Brown
32, software engineer Buffalo, New York
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What's the Story?
On September 11, 2022, Albert Pujols hit his 697th career home run, surpassing Alex Rodriguez on the all-time home run list. This game-winning homer capped a four-run ninth inning, securing a 4-3 victory for the St. Louis Cardinals over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The crowd of 10,398 witnessed this historic moment.The home run ball ricocheted off a couple of seats in right-center field before being caught by Pirates fans Matt and Samantha Brown. The couple was attending the game on the one-year anniversary of Samantha’s father's death. After the game, they met with Pujols and offered the historic ball back to him. However, Pujols graciously declined, stating that the ball would mean more to Samantha than to him. He also signed two additional baseballs for them. Samantha, wearing a jersey honoring former Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli, expressed her gratitude through tears, acknowledging the special significance of the ball on such an emotional day. Pujols emphasized that the ball was just a piece of memorabilia and that it deserved to be with someone who would cherish it deeply. Later, Pujols remarked, "It's just a baseball. They deserve to have it. It went out of the ballpark. We play this game for the fans. So whether they want to give it back or they want to keep it, I don’t have any problem with it. I think it means more to that girl than it means to me having it in my trophy case. She lost her dad, so I think that’s a piece of memorabilia that she can have." |
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696th career home run, tying Alex Rodriguez's career total
Who Caught the Ball?
?
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What's the Story?
Pujols hit a first-pitch slider 418 feet into the left-field stands, sending the ball just beyond the left field foul pole.The ball bounced into the concourse, prompting a scramble among fans eager to retrieve the historic keepsake. Amidst the excitement, it was unclear who ultimately secured the ball. |
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Who Caught the Ball?
Tim Remes
29, bullpen catcher, Detroit Tigers Coral Springs, Florida
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What's the Story?
MLB used special baseballs for Cabrera's plate appearances after he reached 499 home runs. On August 22, 2021, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Cabrera hit his 500th home run.Cabrera connected on a 1-1 pitch from left-hander Steven Matz, sending a 104 mph line drive over the scoreboard in right-center field for a 400-foot homer, tying the score at 1. The 14,685 fans in attendance gave Cabrera a standing ovation as he rounded the bases. After celebrating with his teammates, Cabrera came out of the dugout for a curtain call, acknowledging the cheering crowd by taking off his helmet and bowing to the fans behind Detroit's dugout. The ball landed in an open area between the fence and the first level of the bleachers, near the Detroit Tigers’ bullpen. It was retrieved by Tigers bullpen catcher Tim Remes. After being verified by MLB authenticators, Remes presented the ball to Cabrera in the Tigers’ clubhouse. Tigers director of player relations and authentics, Jordan Field, noted that Cabrera prioritized keeping the ball. The Baseball Hall of Fame requested Cabrera's batting helmet, and it is anticipated that Cabrera might also donate the bat and jersey he used once the season concluded. "I'm going to save it somewhere in my house," Cabrera said, expressing his excitement and appreciation for the milestone and for Remes taking care of the ball. |
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661st career home run, passing Willie Mays' career total
Who Caught the Ball?
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What's the Story?
Albert Pujols made history once again by hitting his 661st career home run, surpassing Willie Mays on the all-time home run list. This significant milestone was achieved with a solo drive to left field off a 1-2 fastball from Texas Rangers pitcher Wes Benjamin. The ball landed in the Rangers' bullpen, sealing Pujols' place as one of the greatest power hitters in baseball history.As Pujols rounded the bases, he pointed to the dugout and did a fist pump upon reaching third base, celebrating the momentous occasion with his teammates. |
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660th career home run, tying Willie Mays' career total
Who Caught the Ball?
?
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What's the Story?
On September 18, 2020, Albert Pujols hit his 660th career home run, tying Willie Mays on the all-time home run list. The milestone homer came in the eighth inning with the Angels trailing 3-2. Pujols launched a fastball from Colorado Rockies reliever Carlos Estevez into the empty left-field seats at Coors Field for a two-run drive, giving the Angels the lead.Due to the absence of fans, the ball was easily retrieved from the stands, ensuring its safekeeping. Pujols decided to keep the ball as a personal memento, while his bat was given to third-base coach Brian Butterfield, a dedicated Mays fan. |