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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2015 ALDS, Game 5:
home run leads to famous bat flip and gives Toronto the lead and eventual win
Who Caught the Ball?
Jeff Byma
31, cabinet maker Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
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What's the Story?
During Game 5 of the 2015 American League Division Series, Jose Bautista hit a dramatic three-run home run off Sam Dyson. The blast gave the Toronto Blue Jays a 6-3 lead over the Texas Rangers, leading to their victory in the series. This moment became famous for Bautista's emphatic bat flip, a gesture that sparked widespread discussion and controversy in baseball circles.The ball bounced off the second deck and landed near Jeff Byma in Section 138. Byma quickly retrieved the ball from beneath his seat amidst a frantic scramble. He described the moment: "It hits the wall above us, comes down right to my feet and I just jumped on it. As soon as I saw it come down near my feet, I went for it. Hands and knees on the ground, under my seat. Picked it up and it was amazing. I gripped it. I couldn't believe it. I hugged my girlfriend right away [we were] screaming at the top of our lungs. It was unbelievable." Despite the ball's significant value, Byma expressed his willingness to return it to Bautista. He said, "It's probably his biggest hit of his career, so if he wants it, I'll be happy to hand it over to him. I'd love to at least meet him and shake his hand and congratulate him on his home run and return it to him." Byma did not demand any compensation but mentioned he would accept any gifts or game tickets offered by Bautista or the Blue Jays. In the following days, Byma received various offers from fans, ranging from $8,500 to a pick-up truck. However, Byma kept the ball for approximately two years before deciding to sell it to a private collector. In January 2019, the ball was announced for auction by Lelands, with an estimated value of at least $8,000. On February 2, 2019, the ball sold for $28,252.80 to an anonymous bidder. |
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500th career home run
Who Caught the Ball?
Alan Schuster
35, web developer VA
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What's the Story?
On September 12, 2015, David Ortiz achieved a significant milestone by hitting his 500th career home run during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Leading off the fifth inning with a 2-2 count, Ortiz launched an 80 mph breaking ball from pitcher Matt Moore deep into the right-center-field seats. Moore stepped off the mound and watched as the ball sailed into the stands.A fan from Virginia, wearing an Orioles shirt, caught the historic home run ball. The fan, who initially chose to remain anonymous, was escorted out of the stands after the ball was authenticated. Later, he met Ortiz and handed over the ball. "He was very nice. He handed it to me, no problem," Ortiz said. "I really appreciate it. We had a very nice package for him." Ortiz respected the fan's desire for privacy, appreciating his wish to stay anonymous. However, Alan Schuster later came forward as the fan who caught the ball. He gave the ball to Ortiz that night in exchange for some undisclosed "perks" from the Red Sox. Schuster chose to keep the details of the exchange private, maintaining an air of mystery around the transaction. |
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Who Caught the Ball?
Zack Hample
37, sportswriter New York, NY
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What's the Story?
On June 19, 2015, Alex Rodriguez hit his 3000th career hit with a solo home run in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium. The ball landed in the right-field seats and was caught by Zack Hample, a well-known baseball collector who has snagged more than 8,000 baseballs across 51 major league stadiums since 1990.Hample, sitting in the right-field seats, caught the historic home run ball and initially expressed his intention to keep it, citing that players like Rodriguez, who have earned significant sums in their careers, don't need favors from fans. He mentioned that while he would consider offers from the Yankees, he did not plan to give the ball back just for memorabilia or a chance to meet Rodriguez. Yankees officials, including head of security Eddie Fastook, president Randy Levine, and COO Lonn Trost, attempted to negotiate with Hample, but he remained reluctant to part with the ball. Rodriguez, acknowledging the situation, humorously referenced the fan who eagerly returned Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit ball in 2011, expressing a wish for a similar scenario but ultimately stating that personal achievements don't compare to team victories like the 2009 championship. After two weeks of negotiations, the Yankees agreed to donate $150,000 to Pitch In For Baseball, a charity supported by Hample that helps underserved communities afford to play baseball. Hample also received some memorabilia, tickets, and other perks from the Yankees. This generous offer led Hample to reconsider and ultimately decide to return the ball. At a Yankee Stadium news conference, Hample presented the ball to Rodriguez, apologizing for any negative comments he had made earlier. Rodriguez, grateful and forgiving, accepted the ball and mentioned his intention to give it to his daughters. |
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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?
On May 7, 2015, Alex Rodriguez hit his 661st career home run, surpassing Willie Mays on the all-time home run list. This historic moment occurred at Yankee Stadium, where Rodriguez connected on a 1-1 pitch, a hanging changeup from Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman. The ball was belted into the runway between Monument Park and the visitors' bullpen in left-center field.The ball was likely retrieved by stadium officials and returned to Rodriguez. |
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660th career home run, tying Willie Mays' career total
Who Caught the Ball?
Mike Shuster
25, financial adviser Warwick, RI
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What's the Story?
On May 1, 2015, Alex Rodriguez hit his 660th career home run, tying Willie Mays on the all-time home run list. This milestone moment occurred at Fenway Park, where Rodriguez, as a pinch-hitter in the top of the eighth inning, turned on a 94 mph fastball from Red Sox pitcher Junichi Tazawa. The ball traveled 419 feet at 117 mph and landed in the third row of the Green Monster Seats.The ball was caught by Mike Shuster, a Red Sox fan who had just returned to his seat after a bathroom break. Shuster, well-prepared and aware of A-Rod's patterns, managed to secure the ball despite being briefly contested by another fan. Shuster's initial reaction was to give the ball a thumbs down, a sentiment shared by many Red Sox fans in the ballpark. Despite being offered various forms of Yankees and Red Sox memorabilia, Shuster decided to keep the ball, citing its significant value and the marketing bonus tied to Rodriguez's contract for hitting the milestone. Shuster even considered unconventional ways to deal with the ball, such as making a statement by destroying it. Years later, Shuster decided to auction off the ball using cryptocurrency technology, inspired by the success of sports figures like Rob Gronkowski and Patrick Mahomes in the NFT market. He planned to sell the physical ball along with limited-edition NFT artwork, creating a unique and modern approach to sports memorabilia. |
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500th career home run
Who Caught the Ball?
Tom Sherrill
29, Air Force serviceman Pomona, California
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What's the Story?
Albert Pujols made history by hitting his 500th career home run, a monumental drive over the left-center-field fence. The ball's journey to its final recipient was quite eventful, as it flew through the hands of one fan, ricocheted off a step in the aisle, and then bounced off Tom Sherrill's belly before landing in his hands.Sherrill, understanding the significance of the milestone, decided to return the ball to Pujols. "I'll take whatever they want to give me, but I'm not going to be picky. I just want to make sure that Albert gets the ball. I'm just happy to be a part of it," Sherrill told Angels broadcasters Victor Rojas and Mark Gubicza on Fox Sports West. After the game, Sherrill handed the ball to Pujols, who in return gave Sherrill autographed memorabilia. |
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2011 World Series, Game 6:
won the game and evened the World Series at 3-3
Who Caught the Ball?
David Huyette
39, radiologist Maryville, Illinois
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What's the Story?
On October 27, 2011, David Freese etched his name into baseball lore with a dramatic, game-winning home run in the 11th inning of Game 6 of the World Series, evening the series at three games apiece and keeping the St. Louis Cardinals' championship hopes alive.David Huyette and his friend Jeremy Reiland were seated in the outfield bleachers at Busch Stadium, having purchased their tickets on StubHub. Throughout the wild 10-9 contest against the Texas Rangers, the duo had played out various scenarios in their minds, each at-bat a potential piece of Cardinals history. Every time a player came to bat, the pair knew that a historic moment could land just a few feet away. "Every time there was a chance there could be a walkoff home run, Jeremy reminded me that there was a grassy knoll right next to us," Huyette recalled. "We're out there and I just assumed the position to get ready each time. At one point Albert [Pujols] had the chance to win the game and we thought that was going to be the time that it happened. But it didn't, he was intentionally walked." When Freese came up to bat in the 11th inning, the crowd was on edge. Huyette heard the crack of the bat, and everything seemed to move in slow motion. He quickly jumped over the fence as the ball sailed toward the grassy knoll near his seat. "I just tumbled around it, expecting to get pummeled and beaten to death," Huyette said. He managed to scurry onto the grass, retrieve the ball, and stuff it down his pants before celebrating. Off-duty St. Louis police officer Mike Reis, working ballpark security, later approached Huyette and Reiland. He informed them that Freese or the Hall of Fame might be interested in the baseball. Reis made it clear that Huyette was free to make his own decision, but the fan immediately agreed to a negotiation. Huyette was taken to a spot outside the Cardinals clubhouse, where he offered the ball to Freese. A quick negotiation ensued, and Huyette agreed to trade the ball for a signed bat from Freese as well as a ball signed by the entire Cardinals team. "Maybe if I had been wanting for money, it'd be different," Huyette said. "But I make a good living. I wasn't going to hold the country hostage for the ball." |
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Who Caught the Ball?
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What's the Story?
Jim Thome hit his 600th career home run with a towering fly ball to left field. The ball cleared the fence and was recovered by stadium officials.The ball was eventually returned to Thome. |
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Who Caught the Ball?
Christian Lopez
23, cell phone salesman Highland Mills, New York
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What's the Story?
On July 9, 2011, Derek Jeter achieved his 3000th career hit with a dramatic home run at Yankee Stadium. Christian Lopez, who had received $65 tickets as a birthday present from his girlfriend Tara Johnson, was sitting in the first row of Section 236 in left field with Johnson, his father Raul, and two family friends, hoping to witness history.As Jeter's milestone hit soared toward them, Lopez recalled his earlier prediction about catching the historic ball. "My boyfriend said, 'If the ball comes over here, I'm going to get it,'" Johnson said. "So when it was hit, I said, 'Christian, I think it's really coming here.'" The ball hit Raul's palm and bounced into Christian's hands. "My dad missed it because he has awful hands," Lopez said. "The next thing I know, I just saw the ball roll in front of me and I jumped on it. It was instinct." Raul quickly covered his son to protect him from the crowd, aware of the chaos that could ensue from such a significant catch. "When I saw the ball went to him, I covered him," Raul said. "I knew it would be crazy because it's history." Yankees officials promptly escorted Lopez to the Steinbrenner family luxury box for his safety. "Security was right there in a second," Lopez said. "They were dragging me up the stairs, and I'm a large man to drag up stairs. They were saying, 'Come with us.' The whole reason for me to come to the game was for history. And to actually be part of it now, it's crazy. It was surreal." Lopez generously decided not to ask for anything in return for the ball. The Yankees rewarded him with season tickets for the rest of the 2011 regular season and playoffs. According to The New York Times, the total value of these seats could exceed $120,000, potentially resulting in a tax liability of up to $14,000 for Lopez. |
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600th career home run
Who Caught the Ball?
Frankie Babilonia
23, New York Yankees security guard
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What's the Story?
On August 4, 2010, Alex Rodriguez hit his 600th career home run, becoming the youngest player to reach this milestone at 35 years old. The historic blast sailed over the center field wall at Yankee Stadium, landing in the protective netting above Monument Park. This prevented the ball from being caught by fans and ensured it was retrieved without a public scramble.Frankie Babilonia, a Yankees employee in his second season, was filling in for a colleague on break when the ball landed. Despite stumbling several times while scrambling to retrieve it, Babilonia successfully handed the ball over to Yankees officials, adhering to team policy. Rodriguez expressed his gratitude, saying, "I'm very blessed that Frankie was so generous. I was lucky to hit it to center field to have one of our guys get it." Babilonia described the experience as a "lifetime experience" and emphasized that he never considered keeping the ball, valuing his job and the moment itself. As a token of appreciation, Rodriguez gave Babilonia a bat, which Babilonia plans to frame and display at home. |