Congratulations, Rich!

[sox83cubs84]

My heartiest congrats to legendary Chicago ballhawk Rich Buhrke, who snagged his 3500th career baseball this past week during Arizona Fall League action. Rich is one helluva good guy, and for those who enjoy ballhawking, the milestone is worth noting.

Dave Miedema

[frikativ54]

Can you explain the appeal of ballhawking? I never quite understood it.

[sox83cubs84]

Can you explain the appeal of ballhawking? I never quite understood it.

It's a chance to acquire a piece of the game, whether you choose to keep them or sell them. If you enjoy hanging out with the guys, the camaraderie is a plus, as well. That's a bit tougher in Chicago though as a lot of the street shaggers have a very inflated idea of ballhawking and themselves, which is the main reason I don't hang out on Waveland Avenue any more. There's some guys both on the street and in the stands that I'm glad to know and hang out with. Being on the receiving end of a game home run is a thrill for most people, and the street crowd (as well as some fans inside) only throw back decoy baseballs...nearly all true ballhawks wouldn't throw a real home run back.

How you go about ballhawking and where is basically your call and, if it makes you happy, that's all that matters. That's another reason why I no longer hang out on Waveland Avenue...too many guys making elitist-sounding rules about what constitutes a legitimate catch, or who can call themselves a ballhawk.

I do it when I can, enjoy it, and these days consider myself an Independent Ballhawk, unaffiliated with any group of ballchasers. As long as I have my fun and other shaggers have theirs, that's the important thing.

Dave Miedema

[trsent]

Can you explain the appeal of ballhawking? I never quite understood it.

Ever see people waiting around to get autographs?

Ballhawks are waiting around hoping to catch a home run ball.

[frikativ54]

Ever see people waiting around to get autographs?

Ballhawks are waiting around hoping to catch a home run ball.

I was just curious. I don't quite understand autograph seekers either.

[trsent]

I was just curious. I don't quite understand autograph seekers either.

I know autograph hounds who never sell anything - They are true collectors. I also know autograph hounds who make a living getting autographs from celebrities.

I do not understand ballhawks myself.

Seems crazy a guy has counted retrieving 3500 home runs and foul balls and he is counting balls obtained during The Arizona Fall League in this count?

I also find it odd that Rich Buhrke would need to be congratulated on this forum. I do not find him as a member here so unless he is a lurker I doubt he would see the recognition to appreciate it. If I wanted to congratulate such a guy, I would be sure to email or call them with my appreciation of their achievement.

[frikativ54]

It's a chance to acquire a piece of the game, whether you choose to keep them or sell them.

What's the all-time record for most baseballs caught by a ballhawk?

[lakeerie92]

Zack Hample has 5,819 total baseballs lifetime.

He got 1,137 this year alone and blogs about it,7.

http://snaggingbaseballs.mlblogs.com/

[frikativ54]

Zack Hample has 5,819 total baseballs lifetime.

He got 1,137 this year alone and blogs about it,7.

http://snaggingbaseballs.mlblogs.com/

Wow! That's pretty incredible. I checked out the blog and was so captivated that I overcooked my meal.

[sox83cubs84]

If I wanted to congratulate such a guy, I would be sure to email or call them with my appreciation of their achievement.

Already done.

Some collectors will know Rich on this Forum, as he let some of his collection go in the mid-1990s to Dan Knoll, where the ones Knoll chose not to keep ended up in Mastro Auctions.

Also, collectors of 1970s era Sports Illustrated may have a springtime 1977 issue with Artis Gilmore on the cover that has a story about him back in the days when ballhawking was purely a collector/fan pastime and there was no real market for home run balls, other than major milestones (like Aaron's last HR.

Dave Miedema