I caught a home run ball from JD Martinez! Now what??

Fuddjcal · #1 06-16-2019, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramram

Personally, I'd give it to the kid nearest to me at the game.

Rob M

you're very nice. I would kick the ball away from the kid, spill drinks and do whatever was fair to get the ball. In fact I did just that in 1980. Sitting behind home plate a foul ball off Lenny Dykstra's bat, thrown By Fernando Valenzuela went high in the air. It hit my had and scooted below me a few seats over where 2 kids were sitting. I got down on the ground and did a swipe kick using my foot as a scoop. Spilled two drinks and got the ball. Poor kids. They have to learn as I did many many games as a young kid never getting a ball.

I bought everyone drinks of course and sitting behind me was Don Newcombe. I had him sign the ball. All is fair in love and baseballs in the stands.

Nice job getting the HR Ball!!!!! I would get JD to sign it at some point and keep it with the rest of your stuff.

mcgwirecom · #2 06-16-2019, 12:37 PM

Keep as much PROOF as you can because you may want to sell it someday. Several years back I bought a HR ball from a guy because he had kept a lot of the proof. It was a HR hit by Aaron Hill and he had completed his second CYCLE in two weeks! The seller managed to catch it in a section that there were not too many people in and provided a ticket for that section, a photo of him wearing the exact clothing he caught the ball in. I was able to match it against the video of the game. Plus I had him write a notarized letter that listed the events of the game.

Hxcmilkshake · #3 06-16-2019, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuddjcal

you're very nice. I would kick the ball away from the kid, spill drinks and do whatever was fair to get the ball. In fact I did just that in 1980. Sitting behind home plate a foul ball off Lenny Dykstra's bat, thrown By Fernando Valenzuela went high in the air. It hit my had and scooted below me a few seats over where 2 kids were sitting. I got down on the ground and did a swipe kick using my foot as a scoop. Spilled two drinks and got the ball. Poor kids. They have to learn as I did many many games as a young kid never getting a ball.

I bought everyone drinks of course and sitting behind me was Don Newcombe. I had him sign the ball. All is fair in love and baseballs in the stands.

Nice job getting the HR Ball!!!!! I would get JD to sign it at some point and keep it with the rest of your stuff.

Just wow....

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

scooter729 · #4 06-16-2019, 08:41 PM

Thanks to all for your thoughts and advice - I'll make sure to save copies of the screen grabs I was able to get from the TV footage, along with the pictures I took while at the game that night.

I certainly won't be selling it, as my 7 year old has been pretty happy the past few days about having a HR ball from one of his favorite players. (In case you hadn't seen it, I posted this thread last month about his chance to meet a bunch of Sox players.) I will shoot to have JD sign it next chance we get, so that will leave us with a nice souvenir.

scooter729 · #5 06-16-2019, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hxcmilkshake

Just wow....

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Maybe we can hope it's just a joke, since Dykstra didn't start playing until 1985? Just hoping...

bigfanNY · #6 06-16-2019, 09:31 PM

I dont think a joke. Ever been to a Mets game? Notice both of the responses saying dont get item signed are again Mets fans.They are as a group very different from other baseball fans.
Two balls below the first the Miguel Cabrera game used for a single that has MLB sticker. As I said earlier I like that the ball tells it's own story.
Second ball was tossed up to me in the left field stands by Martin Prado when he was with the Yanks. The next spring when he was with the Marlins they played an exhibition game vs the Jax Suns before heading north to start the season. I was in Jax helping out some family and had my son mail me the ball to have Prado sign it. Waiting outside I see Prado emerge take ball out of my pocket and Giancarlo Stanton takes ball from my hand and signs it. (Iwas not gonna be that guy who told the highest paid ballplayer at that time he could not sign the ball) then Mr. Prado walks up I tell him story he laughs and signs it as well. And I really enjoy getting in person signatures. So any unsigned game used items I have I always look to get them signed just my preferance. And the secondary market dose value signed game used items higher than unsigned ones. So a win win.
Hope you get to share the moment JD signs the ball with your son. Both of you will remember it.
J.

scooter729 · #7 06-16-2019, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

I dont think a joke. Ever been to a Mets game? Notice both of the responses saying dont get item signed are again Mets fans.They are as a group very different from other baseball fans.
Two balls below the first the Miguel Cabrera game used for a single that has MLB sticker. As I said earlier I like that the ball tells it's own story.
Second ball was tossed up to me in the left field stands by Martin Prado when he was with the Yanks. The next spring when he was with the Marlins they played an exhibition game vs the Jax Suns before heading north to start the season. I was in Jax helping out some family and had my son mail me the ball to have Prado sign it. Waiting outside I see Prado emerge take ball out of my pocket and Giancarlo Stanton takes ball from my hand and signs it. (Iwas not gonna be that guy who told the highest paid ballplayer at that time he could not sign the ball) then Mr. Prado walks up I tell him story he laughs and signs it as well. And I really enjoy getting in person signatures. So any unsigned game used items I have I always look to get them signed just my preferance. And the secondary market dose value signed game used items higher than unsigned ones. So a win win.
Hope you get to share the moment JD signs the ball with your son. Both of you will remember it.
J.

Sox and Yankees fans finding common ground and trading pleasant stories - what's going on here!?

I will update this thread at a later date (who knows - might take until next year) when I'm able to get JD to sign the ball - and I hope to do it when my little guy is there to have him sign it!

Gary Dunaier · #8 06-17-2019, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

Notice both of the responses saying dont get item signed are again Mets fans.They are as a group very different from other baseball fans.

What does my being a Mets fan have to do with it? I explained why I felt scooter729 shouldn't get the ball signed. It's a perfectly legitimate reason.

I'm also into original comic book art and when I've bought pieces directly from the artist, I do not ask them to sign it. I remember one convention where I bought a page from the artist who drew it, and as I was getting my credit card to pay for the piece he signed it without asking first. I cringed but there was nothing I could do at that point. Just as the game-used ball wasn't signed when it was used in a game, the page was not signed when it was used to produce the comic book, so I don't want it signed after the fact.

How does being a Mets fan play a part in forming that opinion?

bigfanNY · #9 06-17-2019, 11:25 PM

Gary just an observation of a fact. Admittedly a very small sample size but clearly a correlation . Perhaps it would be clearer if you read the paragraph as I wrote it and not the incomplete quote you parsed. I do not know why Mets fans opinions on many things differ from my own. But I am not unhappy about it.

packs · #10 06-18-2019, 08:37 AM

Only a Mets fan would further punish themselves by not getting an autograph.

Here's my signed Trout. If he hadn't signed this baseball it would be valued at only a fraction of what it is now (and will be later):

callou2131 · #11 06-28-2019, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

What does my being a Mets fan have to do with it? I explained why I felt scooter729 shouldn't get the ball signed. It's a perfectly legitimate reason.

I'm also into original comic book art and when I've bought pieces directly from the artist, I do not ask them to sign it. I remember one convention where I bought a page from the artist who drew it, and as I was getting my credit card to pay for the piece he signed it without asking first. I cringed but there was nothing I could do at that point. Just as the game-used ball wasn't signed when it was used in a game, the page was not signed when it was used to produce the comic book, so I don't want it signed after the fact.

How does being a Mets fan play a part in forming that opinion?

Very True. I used to be big in the game used hockey world, both jerseys and sticks. The second you got them signed, the value dropped, and you lost a lot of potential buyers. The only place you would get a game used jersey signed was on the inside of the crest so it couldnt be seen.

maniac_73 · #12 06-28-2019, 08:40 PM

Am I missing stuff or are the grown men in here actually serious in saying that kids should have to fight them for a ball?

ramram · #13 06-18-2019, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuddjcal

you're very nice. I would kick the ball away from the kid, spill drinks and do whatever was fair to get the ball. In fact I did just that in 1980. Sitting behind home plate a foul ball off Lenny Dykstra's bat, thrown By Fernando Valenzuela went high in the air. It hit my had and scooted below me a few seats over where 2 kids were sitting. I got down on the ground and did a swipe kick using my foot as a scoop. Spilled two drinks and got the ball. Poor kids. They have to learn as I did many many games as a young kid never getting a ball.

Wow. I've got no words for this.

Rob M

conor912 · #14 06-18-2019, 12:43 PM

Why not just write on the ball the date and who hit it and leave it at that....a cool family artifact. Why does everything need to be authenticated and hologrammed and turn into a commodity?

packs · #15 06-18-2019, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conor912

Why not just write on the ball the date and who hit it and leave it at that....a cool family artifact. Why doesn't everything need to be authenticated and hologrammed and turn into a commodity?

You'd have to start society over again for the answer to that question to be any different.

w7imel · #16 06-19-2019, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramram

Wow. I've got no words for this.

Rob M

Hey Rob.... Fudd did the right thing!!! These kids had to learn same lessons in life we all had to. Too many expect everything to be handed to them. If you want a ball handed to you sit by the ball boys. If not be prepared for survival of the fittest!!!!

Fuddjcal · #17 06-20-2019, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w7imel

Hey Rob.... Fudd did the right thing!!! These kids had to learn same lessons in life we all had to. Too many expect everything to be handed to them. If you want a ball handed to you sit by the ball boys. If not be prepared for survival of the fittest!!!!

LOL, Thanks Michael. I was at 50 games in the 4th row before the age of 13. Went early, took SX-70 Polaroids of everybody and they all wanted to see the picture develop in front of their eyes Garvey, Cey, Messersmith, Russel et all. Do you think they ever tossed me a ball? Hell no. Do you think I didn't get run over every time a ball came by me? Sitting next to Casey Stengel for an entire game in the 105 degree heat, do you think he handed me a ball. hell no.

These kids need to build some moxie.

You get them as they come to you. If kids are in the way so be it. I did't even notice the kids or the spilled drinks until I had the ball. I thought I was nice refilling their drinks.

w7imel · #18 06-20-2019, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuddjcal

LOL, Thanks Michael. I was at 50 games in the 4th row before the age of 13. Went early, took SX-70 Polaroids of everybody and they all wanted to see the picture develop in front of their eyes Garvey, Cey, Messersmith, Russel et all. Do you think they ever tossed me a ball? Hell no. Do you think I didn't get run over every time a ball came by me? Sitting next to Casey Stengel for an entire game in the 105 degree heat, do you think he handed me a ball. hell no.

These kids need to build some moxie.

You get them as they come to you. If kids are in the way so be it. I did't even notice the kids or the spilled drinks until I had the ball. I thought I was nice refilling their drinks.

I got a foul ball at chicago cubs day game 5 years ago after putting my hands up to avoid a line drive to the face. got lucky as it dropped directly in front of me. Before I could even think another fan dove for it head butting me but i STILL GOT THE BALL!!!. It is safe and sound in a cube with the tickets...I also had smoltz toss me a ball after throwing practice...was pretty cool...still have that one too!!! Keep up the good work..if them kids want a ball they need to sharpen thier reflexes

Aquarian Sports Cards · #19 06-18-2019, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuddjcal

It hit my had and scooted below me a few seats over where 2 kids were sitting.

Dammit, now due to your ambiguous typo I can't decided if it hit you in the head or the hand...

EDIT: Crap I just realized maybe it hit your DAD

Fuddjcal · #20 06-19-2019, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Dammit, now due to your ambiguous typo I can't decided if it hit you in the head or the hand...

EDIT: Crap I just realized maybe it hit your DAD

So a couple of typos...Yes hit MY HAND and rolled below me and over a couple seats. And I didn't take pics or write the date down, but it was the "1980's". May have been a 15 run deficit the dodger came back from, but we left in the 4th inning, like usual. Get hammered and leave early just like Dennis Martinez No Hitter. Left in the 6th.

AND YES, I would do the same thing today to get the ball. Another time, a Mark McGwire homer hit me in the hand, missed it again, and I dove after it. Hit the ball and it flew away.

I tore my shoulder and left bleeding. LOL. Was not the same for 10 years Does that help?

#21 06-19-2019, 09:53 AM

If you caught the ball (or retrieved it) and don�t ever plan to sell it then why be concerned with �proof�. Print out a pic of the screenshot you showed in the thread. Keep the ticket stub if you have it and print out the box score or cut it out of a Boston newspaper. That�s what I�d do

Chris-Counts · #22 06-19-2019, 07:00 PM

If you do decide to get it signed, please don't use a Sharpie. Ballpoint all the way. My vote would be to get it signed, although it drives me nuts when players sign jerseys or bats. Balls simply look good when they are signed, and jerseys and bats don't. At least that's my opinion — I'm sure others would disagree.

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