Vote: If you catch a historic homerun baseball do you return it to the team, keep it or do a deal
PADIdiver
Posts: 133 ✭✭✭
Still hoping to see Vladdy's first home run occur but it got me thinking... if you were to catch his first home run ball or any other historic baseball for that matter... what would you do?
- Return it to the player for free
- Keep it no matter the offer
- Work out a fair deal with the player (what is a fair deal can be discussed in the comments)
Vote: If you catch a historic homerun baseball do you return it to the team, keep it or do a deal
This is a private poll: no-one will see what you voted for.
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Comments
Return for free. It's just who I am.
Andy
I understand the question, but how can one "return" it to the batter? Return to the pitcher I can understand.
Return it for free. Without morals and decency, what does that leave us with? Nothing.
I'd rather have a game-used bat, than a home-run baseball. So, if I were to catch a home-run ball, and the player wanted the ball, I'd ask for one of his game-used bats in exchange.
Steve
It depends on the ball and the historical significance (aka the market value if sold). Example, if I catch Jeter's 3000 hit, or Bonds record breaking homerun, etc. Items like that I would keep and sell on the open market. Items like that could fetch life changing money for someone like myself. The Bonds ball sold for $752k, Now if it is a no name player first homerun, or a insignificant ball, then I would gladly give it back for free or something in exchange if they offered. I think it really just depends what the opportunity would be post catching the ball to determine what I would do.
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I wouldn't just return it to some nobody that works for the team... I'd want to at least meet the player and hand it to them personally if they wanted it. Sure, getting a signed bat, jersey and a photo with them would be a nice bonus too. Much cooler story to tell down the road than just having the ball.
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If I caught a historic home run ball that was a record breaker and got the **it beat out of me, you better believe I'm selling that sucker on the open market. Most of it will probably pay off the medical expenses incurred at first, then vacations and my local dispensary.
I’m 100% selling that sucker if I get it. With all the money these players make, they can bid on it just like everyone else.
I actually know the guy who caught David Ortiz's 500th HR ball. They gave him a bunch of Rex Sox/Ortiz memorabilia and flew him and his wife across the country to a Red Sox/Athletics game. He said he would've given it back for nothing, but they offered the stuff, so he took it.
The player is the one who made the historic play and as an act of kindness you give the ball back. You get the meet and greet a few picture and ability to savor moment with them while it’s still a highlight. The player probably will give you something anyway. It’s a moment not financial transaction.
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This is a difficult question to answer and I think @orioles93 hit the nail on the head. It really depends on the significance of the event.
For everyone who would give the ball back for free and expect nothing in return -- I salute you!
I would ask you one question -- if you caught Mark McGwire's record-setting 70th Homerun Baseball that sold at auction for over $3 MILLION -- would you still give the baseball back for free and expect nothing in return?
I believe I'm a kind person and I always try to do the right thing. I asked myself that same question and if I'm being totally honest with myself, I know I would be using that $3 MILLION to help set up my loved ones for life (and use what's left over to pick up a couple of PSA 10's of my favorite old-time players...)
If it was a major moment home run, like Mcgwires or Bonds HR balls, that is life changing money. I think if most were honest, it would be very very difficult to just give away a 3 million dollar payday.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
I would give it to the player but draw up a contract where I retain 49% ownership until the player passes at which time his estate gets 100% ownership. If the player donates it to a museum then I would get part of the tax write-off. If it didn’t end up meaning that much to them, and they sold it I would get half the proceeds. To me it should go to the player, but I would be pissed if I gave it to them and two years later they cashed in and I got nada.
Back in '98 my brother and I were buying left field bleacher seats at Busch Stadium to try to time and catch McGwire's 62nd homerun. We were a bit off though. Homerun #63 landed about ten rows directly in front of us. The lucky gentleman who caught the ball was swiftly escorted out by security guards and he eventually sold the ball for $50,000.
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I think a couple of hot dogs all the way and a large coke would be enough to persuade anybody to give the ball up. Who doesn't love a good hot dog. 😉
I'll tell you what Mr. McGwire. If you throw in unlimited ketchup and napkins, then you got yourself one historic homerun ball.😉
Thanks for all the answers! I was curious as everyone here is a collector so I thought it would be a harder dilemma! I should've added a fourth option which was to keep it and sell on the open market
I vote for keep it and sell it on the open market.
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I didnt read through all the responses but my take is that any professional sport is about the fans.
It is absolutely all about the people who pay to support and watch these sports. If you happen to be lucky enough to attend a historic moment and catch a ball then that should be in every right be your decision whatever it may be.
Keep it, sell it for a million bucks or donate it to some good cause. Should be no pressure to give it back to the player.
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simple. Fair market value.
This is the same thing you are charged to go to the game. The same you pay to your cable company to watch the games. The same you pay to get an autograph from a player. Why should this change when the multi-million dollar player wants to purchase something???
I have no sympathy towards a guy that has probably made $100 million + in his career off getting a fair market value for his talent to then want to try to take advantage of you on the value for that baseball. Just say the ball is worth a million. If it is that important to the player he can simply spend what amounts to a small amount of money to the player to get that ball. It's nice enough just to allow the player the first opportunity to buy the ball.
+1
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I'll tell you what Mr. Bonds, this 756th home run ball can be yours for two hot dogs all the way, and a large Coke. Now Mr. Bonds, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to insist on unlimited ketchup and napkins, as well as no less than 2 refills on that large Coke.😉
You could blow it up if you want, like these losers did.
Kiss me twice.....let's party.
they had to buy it first
IMF
Marie Kondo it! Does it bring you joy?...certainly not as much joy as it brings to the player...give it back for something that does give you joy...like a picture and visit with the player in the clubhouse...that would bring me joy.
Story from today about Pujols 2000 rbi ball. Fan decided to keep it. Pujols said he is ok with it. I wonder why it says the Tigers said it cant be authenticated by Major League Baseball. I thought they used hologram stickers with serial numbers for this.
espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26709633/pujols-gets-2000-rbi-hr-fan-keeps-ball
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Very classy of Albert Pujols to let the fan keep the ball. If I was the fan, I would give the ball to Pujols, but I'm afraid it would cost him 2 hotdogs all the way, and a large Coke. By the way Mr. Pujols, I'm going to need unlimited ketchup and napkins, as well as no less than 2 refills on that large Coke.😉
What a prescient thread. I have watched several interviews and also read accounts of the circumstances behind the negotiations over the homerun ball resulting in Pujols' 2000th RBI, and while it appears everyone involved took a stubborn approach, in the end, those that had the power to have the ball authenticated seem very petty for refusing to do so. I hope the fan uses the ball to play catch or hit pop-ups to his kid when they're old enough, until the ball is scuffed and the stitching frayed. Let MLB try to convince him the ball is "worthless" after that.
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Kris
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Who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned hot dog. I'll tell you what Mr. Pujols, I know you're a charitable man, so if you can find it in your heart to throw in a bag of peanuts, then you got one historic homerun ball coming to you.😉
In my view, the guy who caught the Pujols HR ball is an idiot! Without MLB authentication, he won't get anything substantial for the ball.
If it were me, I'd give the ball back in exchange for an autographed baseball and game-used bat, and maybe see if he'd include a Mike Trout autographed ball and game-used bat.
Steve
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And MLB looks like idiots for not authenticating the ball, regardless of what the fan ultimately decided to do with it. The ball is "lost" forever now. Why be petty and try to bully the guy by saying they had no intent of authenticating it if he planned to keep it? "You're going to do things our way, take it or leave it!" Authenticate it first, then negotiate. Treat the guy with a little dignity. MLB authenticates all kinds of random crap that they then sell online or in the team stores at the stadium. They could have slapped that sticker on there in 10 seconds and gotten it into an acrylic cube, no problem. The ball was clearly worth more to MLB and Pujols than it was to the fan, yet they negotiated like they were the ones holding all of the cards. The fan called their bluff, and MLB has egg all over their face. The guy went to the game with nothing, but leaves with a story, his 15 minutes of fame, and a ball. What does he care? MLB, Pujols, and all the rest get nothing, all because they tried to unfairly squeeze the little guy. Shame on them.
I would guess that this guy would get a hefty sum if he ever decided to auction off the ball, despite not being authenticated. At this point he's gotten enough press with his photo in the paper that all he would need to do is offer a letter of provenance that is indeed the ball, and Pujols collectors would line up to bid. I could be wrong, but stuff always rules.
Not much worse than Multibillion dollar corporation who capitalize on every situation possible attempting to extort an individual.