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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600th career home run
Who Caught the Ball?
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What's the Story?
This historic home run landed in the right-center field bullpen at the Ballpark in Arlington.
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2006 ALCS, Game 4:
won the AL pennant for the Detroit Tigers
Who Caught the Ball?
Jonathan Fenlon
23, college student Waterford, Michigan |
What's the Story?
During Game 4 of the 2006 ALCS, Magglio Ordonez hit a dramatic walk-off home run that secured the AL pennant for the Detroit Tigers. The ball flew into the left field seats where it was deflected by a spectator before bouncing off the forehead of Tim Smith, knocking off his Tigers cap. The ball then rolled under the seats, where Jonathan Fenlon, a 24-year-old fan, dove for it and successfully grabbed the historic souvenir.Fenlon expressed his amazement and excitement to The Detroit News, saying, "I'm in shock. It still hasn't sunk in." Although Fenlon initially considered keeping the ball, he mentioned that he hadn't ruled out giving it to Ordonez and had not yet decided whether he would seek compensation for surrendering the ball. "I don't want to sell it to anyone else," Fenlon told The Oakland Press of Pontiac. "Obviously Maggs, I think, would like to have it back." Ordonez expressed his desire to obtain the ball so he could turn it over to the Baseball Hall of Fame, noting that his bat from the game was already in their possession. "If he will give it to me, I would like to give them the ball," Ordonez said before the Tigers' practice at Comerica Park. Tragically, Jonathan Fenlon passed away in 2009 after suffering an apparent heart attack during Detroit's Free Press Marathon. |
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734th career home run, breaking Hank Aaron's NL record
Who Caught the Ball?
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What's the Story?
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733rd career home run, tying Hank Aaron's NL record
Who Caught the Ball?
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What's the Story?
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3rd player in history to hit a grand slam in his 1st major league at-bat (first player to do so on the first pitch)
Who Caught the Ball?
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What's the Story?
On September 2, 2006, Kevin Kouzmanoff made history by becoming the third player in Major League Baseball history to hit a grand slam in his first major league at-bat, and he did it on the very first pitch he saw. The ball flew over the center field wall and landed in the grassy batter's eye area at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.An unidentified man wearing a dark shirt and baseball cap recovered the ball from the batter's eye. The man's identity and any subsequent actions he took with the ball have not been documented in public records, leaving the ultimate fate of this ball unknown. |
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715th career home run, passing Babe Ruth's career total
Who Caught the Ball?
Andrew Morbitzer
38, marketing director San Francisco, California
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What's the Story?
On May 28, 2006, Barry Bonds hit his 715th career home run, surpassing Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list. The milestone occurred at AT&T Park (now Oracle Park) in San Francisco. After hitting the hands of fans in the center field bleachers, the ball bounced onto an elevated platform in center field and then fell to the concession stands below, where Andrew Morbitzer was standing in line to buy beer and peanuts. He caught the ball with one hand."I was just standing in line, and it fell in my hand," Morbitzer said. He was quickly ushered away by security for a postgame news conference. Morbitzer and his wife, Megan, considered keeping the ball but decided they couldn't turn down a potential financial payoff. "We decided if we were rich we'd keep the ball because it's fun to have a piece of sports lore to hold on to," Morbitzer said. "But we're not rich." He stored the ball in a safe deposit box at a bank, visiting it twice. "Sometimes you wake up at four in the morning, and you're like, 'God, I wonder if it's still there?'" he said, laughing. "You try to act nonchalant and walk into the safety deposit room. I actually asked the guard to turn around. And then I just peer into the box and look at it." Morbitzer put the ball up for auction on eBay in August 2006. It sold for $220,100 to Marc Chase, an exotic car merchant. Reflecting on the experience, Morbitzer said, "It was a fun day in the sun. We had a fun time with it, and now we're both going to go back to our day job." He planned to use the proceeds to pay off wedding debts, make a down payment on a home, invest, and donate 10 percent to the charity Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America. |
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714th career home run, tying Babe Ruth's career total
Who Caught the Ball?
Tyler Snyder
19, junior college student Pleasanton, California
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What's the Story?
On May 20, 2006, Barry Bonds hit his 714th career home run, tying Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list. The historic shot occurred at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, and the ball soared over the center-right field bleachers.The ball was caught by Tyler Snyder, a 19-year-old Athletics fan, who was alone in a walkway near his seat above the right-field wall in Section 146. The fans around Snyder cheered wildly but did not assault or gouge him, thanks in part to a stadium policy that issued wristbands corresponding to each section, preventing fans from other areas from crowding during Bonds' at-bats. "You have to see the ball after it's hit, judge it and get to the spot," Snyder explained. "Then you have to get your glove in front of everyone else's." An experienced ballhawk, Snyder estimated he had caught about 500 balls, including those during batting practice rounds. Despite his success in catching the ball, Snyder expressed his dislike for Bonds, saying, "I hate that guy. I don't really care for the guy." When asked if he would consider giving the ball to Bonds, Snyder declined with a mild expletive, making it clear he had no intention of doing so. Instead, he announced, "I want to be on Jimmy Kimmel." Snyder stored his prized catch in a safe deposit box on his way home from the game. Although he initially planned to auction the ball, he remains one of the few people with a Bonds record home run ball who has not sold it. |
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2005 World Series, Game 2:
won the game and gave the Chicago White Sox a 2-0 World Series lead
Who Caught the Ball?
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What's the Story?
Scott Podsednik hit a game-winning home run that secured a 7-6 victory for the Chicago White Sox, giving them a 2-0 lead in the series. This crucial home run was a highlight in Podsednik's career and a pivotal moment in the White Sox's quest for their first championship in 88 years.A group of four fans who retrieved the ball generously returned it to Podsednik. In gratitude, Podsednik rewarded them with three autographed baseballs and a signed bat. |
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2005 NLCS, Game 5:
led to a win for the St. Louis Cardinals
Who Caught the Ball?
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What's the Story?
In Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS, Albert Pujols delivered one of the most memorable and impactful home runs in baseball history. Facing Houston Astros closer Brad Lidge, Pujols launched a towering three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a dramatic 5-4 victory.This homer, known for its sheer power and timing, is often described as a life-force-sucking moment for Astros fans and a testament to Pujols' extraordinary talent. The home run silenced the crowd at Minute Maid Park, leaving fans in awe and admiration of Pujols' greatness. Even though the Astros went on to clinch the series two nights later, this home run remains one of the most notorious and unforgettable moments in postseason history. Brad Lidge, the Astros closer, took years to fully recover from the blow, which became emblematic of Pujols' reputation as one of the most feared hitters in the game. |
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2005 NLDS, Game 4:
won the longest postseason game in history
Who Caught the Ball?
Shaun Dean
25, comptroller Porter, Texas
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What's the Story?
On October 9, 2005, the Houston Astros won the longest postseason game in MLB history, an 18-inning thriller against the Atlanta Braves, to clinch the National League Division Series. The game was decided by a dramatic home run from Chris Burke in the bottom of the 18th inning.Shaun Dean, a dedicated Astros fan, was in the second row of the left field stands at Minute Maid Park. During the game, Dean caught Lance Berkman's grand slam in the eighth inning, and ten innings later, he astonishingly snagged Burke's game-winning homer. "As a baseball fan, you hope to catch a foul ball, get something once in your life," Dean said. "To be an Astros fan, be at the playoffs and catch both balls, it was an unreal experience." After the game, an usher directed Dean to Astros staff members, who took him near the clubhouse. Although he didn't get to enter due to the celebrations, he met team broadcaster Jim Deshaies and GM Tim Purpura. Dean never considered selling the balls. During an interview on 'Sports Edge' on Sirius radio, Wagerweb.com offered him $10,000 for the two historic baseballs, but he declined. "If the Astros want them, they can have them, but if not, both balls go in my son's room," he responded. Dean planned to display them on a shelf in his 3-year-old son Tyler's room, decorated with sports memorabilia. Dean and his son later met Roger Clemens, who signed their No. 22 jerseys and spent a few minutes with Berkman and Burke. The Astros also gave Dean and his family tickets to Game 3 of the NL Championship Series against St. Louis. "It's a pretty cool story," Burke said. "What are the odds of Lance and I hitting the ball in the same spot? It's a cool thing he's giving the balls back." Dean ultimately donated both balls to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The balls, along with a picture of Dean and his family, are part of an exhibit commemorating the event. Brad Efron, chairman of the department of statistics at Stanford University, told ESPN.com that the odds of catching two home run balls in this case are between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 5,000. "Of the 43,000 people there, there are actually only a couple thousand people in the ballpark who can catch a homerun ball," Efron said. "So the odds are not as astronomical." However, the odds of catching two crucial home run balls in such an important game remain extraordinary. |