OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

[suicide_squeeze]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

You make great points about the selfishness of athletes, especially at shows. In my short life, I have met lots of people. And the rudest of all of them are the athletes, who really take the celebrity to their heads. I'm not talking about all of them, but I find a higher percentage of rude athletes than I do in any other field.

I will never forget my experience with Hunter Pence, when I merely asked for a photo with him, which the show promoter had told me in advance that I was entitled to. He glared at me when I told him I was a big fan,and wouldn't say a word to me.

As soon as I asked for the photo with Pence, he threw up his hands, called for security, and got the wannabe cop to bark at me that I was delaying the flow of the line. Quite an arrogant thing for the then-rookie to do, considering how little he's done compared to a lot of players.

The bottom line is that athletes are not entitled to any ball; they wouldn't get a salary if it weren't for the fans paying for tickets, beer, etc. Yes, it would have been nice for the guy to give the ball back to the Marlin, but it was the fan's property, plain and simple. Athletes aren't owed anything.

Hey Les!!!

Haven't seen any cracks from you in quite awhile......thought we lost you. Nice to see you back.

Regards,

Steve

[ndevlin]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

About 5 years ago, I saw Warren Sapp sitting at the airport lobby right before take off. He was sitting right across from me with no one around. He had just gotten off the phone and I got the guts to go up and ask if I could get a photo with him. He never even looked at me once and said, "I dont do pictures" with a nasty attitude. I stood there for a second because I didnt know what to do next and he continued to sit there looking away from me. So I just walked off. Ever since then I always thought he was the biggest d-bag ever.

I found it odd though when I sat back down, a non-white person that worked at the airport(custodian or something) came up to him and they shook hands and talked for a while. So who knows, maybe doesnt like white folks

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

And some of the big name players are the most understanding of all. Last year I got to see the whole Mets team because ironically was staying at the same hotel as them. I sat in the lobby, and got a few autographs from players, and the ones that were asked didn't hesitate to sign (Reyes, Pelfrey, Wagner, and Church). All were friendly in the process as well. But I can believe that there are players that have egos. But in their defense, they probably encounter these situations countless times, and get tired of it. I'm not saying it's right of them, but I guess they have their reasons.

[frikativ54]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

These baseball players think we're all wannabe's, folks. Don't get all soft on them and beat up a fan for handling the situation the way he saw fit? You don't have to agree with the way he handled it (or what he was asking for.....I sure didn't).....but the guy knew what he was doing.

Go to a signing show three or four times in your life. You will soon see that, although there are certainly great guys in the sports world, a lot of them aren't so great. In fact, they are downright selfish and rude, not caring one bit about what you want (ex. asking them to sign a bat on the sweet spot, only to see them turn the dang thing over to spite you and sign the back of the barrel as an example.....I've seen it done!).

You make great points about the selfishness of athletes, especially at shows. In my short life, I have met lots of people. And the rudest of all of them are the athletes, who really take the celebrity to their heads. I'm not talking about all of them, but I find a higher percentage of rude athletes than I do in any other field.

I will never forget my experience with Hunter Pence, when I merely asked for a photo with him, which the show promoter had told me in advance that I was entitled to. He glared at me when I told him I was a big fan,and wouldn't say a word to me.

As soon as I asked for the photo with Pence, he threw up his hands, called for security, and got the wannabe cop to bark at me that I was delaying the flow of the line. Quite an arrogant thing for the then-rookie to do, considering how little he's done compared to a lot of players.

The bottom line is that athletes are not entitled to any ball; they wouldn't get a salary if it weren't for the fans paying for tickets, beer, etc. Yes, it would have been nice for the guy to give the ball back to the Marlin, but it was the fan's property, plain and simple. Athletes aren't owed anything.

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

That's basically what I was getting at in a nut shell. If you call yourself a "ball hawk", really listen to yourself. It sounds sad and pathetic sorry. Like I said I don't have a problem with someone getting a ball, but when you make it a goal to load up with them per game, it's really sad and pathetic.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

I think a lot can be said about a grown man that runs around ballparks changing shirts and hats to accomodate the playing teams, bugging the heck out of players for balls, and goes by the names of "ballhawk" and "happy youngster".

This probably feeds into your image of "ballhawks", Lastings, but, while it may not be this way in some cities, at Wrigley Field, many of the ballhawks take the name seriously...maybe too seriously. It's no big deal to me who calls themselves a ballhawk, but a few years ago, the Sun-Times did a brief interview with a Wrigley regular who referred to himself as a "ballhawk" in the interview. The next day, not all, but several of the guys on the street were standing around, seething, because this guy, notorious for asking players for baseballs, had the temerity to refer to himself as a "ballhawk" The Wrigley crowd frowns on begging (asking players for baseballs) and celebrates catching them (to them, earning them). It's become a macho thing with much of the Waveland Avenue crowd...some of these guys need to spend more time hanging out and having fun, and less time grousing over what constitutes a "ballhawk".

Dave M.
Chicago area

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

I don't have a problem if someone wants a ball. Every game I go to I would like to get a ball, but rarely happens. I'm not going to harrass players constantly or swipe a ball intended for someone else. If you get a ball just be happy you got one, and be done with it. But I'm not going to play ball cop it really isn't that big of a deal. The bottom line is that the "ballhawk" or "happy youngster" really is an immature adult.

[bigtruck260]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

SHHHHH. There are alot of them that read this board.

Actaully, I think it's a pretty cool hobby to be a ballhawk. You need to have time, dedication and be fearless. Most of them are pretty nice guys, but every now and then you run into one from out of town in the bleachers...wearing a CUBS uniform.

[LastingsMilledge85]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

I think a lot can be said about a grown man that runs around ballparks changing shirts and hats to accomodate the playing teams, bugging the heck out of players for balls, and goes by the names of "ballhawk" and "happy youngster".

[mattmueller]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

The Happy Youngster and this "incident" gets some run on the front page of the Wall Street Journal this morning. Link below, but you may need to be a subscriber to access it:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124700099868207685.html#mod=todays_us_page_one

[tigerdale]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

I'd like to share my opinion on this subject....maybe its not the original intent of the post, but it is interesting to me & probably everyone who buys mlb authentic items. I have collected quite a few 'MLB authentic' home run baseballs. I think they're a great collectable, something that can't be cheapened (meaning, a player only hits so many, unlike switching bats every at bat or changing jerseys..etc...). Out of my collection, some look very rubbed up & used.....all the way to the other extreme of little or no rub & even difficult to find a ball mark. I have been told that authenticaters will not authenticate HR balls, say that were thrown back (visitors home runs) because they don't know if it was the real ball, also fan caught HR's can't be. As for the rubbing, I have also been told, depending on whose pitching, that could vary by home teams pitcher preference....some actually like very little rubbing if at all. Having said all this, people are just workers & mistakes can be made I'm sure. I had started a post a few weeks back in which I bought 2 game used balls authenticated from a tiger game & they were both minor league balls (from different minor leagues at that!!)...were they really used in a MLB game...didn't the ump notice?? Or were they just pulled from a BP buckett?? very odd to me....I know I probably don't speak (or write) very clear, but it is a subject I have put a lot of thought into to.

[sportscentury]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

As I stated, I know the worker who retrieved the 'GS' ball and his statement when I asked him jokingly if he got the right ball was a smirk, shrugged his shoulders and said, 'I retrieved 'a' ball... once I handed it to MLB, they tagged it and called it OFFICIALLY became 'the' ball.' And I'll guarantee you that MLB didn't waste anytime looking to see if it looked more like a GU ball or a BP ball. Once it was tagged, it was a piece of history as far as they are concerned.

Wow.

.

[xpress34]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

Let me explain why there is nothing to gain with this argument, and it just doesn't make sense.

First off, no matter which ball he presents to the MLB Authenticator, if it ISN'T the correct ball, it will be identified and globally accepted to be the real ball from the moment the sticker is placed on it. EVEN if he keeps the real home run ball hit by Pujols, he would never be able to explain how he ended up with the correct one, being he had it (supposedly) to hand to the authenticator. In this ficticious example, his little plan would backfire in theory, and just doen't make any sense. Because if he tried to tell everyone what he did, who would believe he would be that stupid?

Furthermore, game-used baseballs are rubbed up with "Mississippi Mudd" before each game, and have a different appearance than batting practice baseballs. Yes some eventually get into the teams bags for B.P., and some eventually get into the hands of a fan, but by then are much more beat-up, scuffed up, have net marks on them, etc. Personally speaking, with a ton of experience in identifying and handling game-used baseballs, there is a significant difference in appearance that can be seen rather quickly. There is no way a major league pitcher is going to have a batting-practice type ball, scuffed and well used, with the labels all worn and badly beat up, and with unidentifyable markings on the ball not made while used during a regular ML baseball game.

In the other cases you mention Chris, if a home run ball goes into a part of the park where the "housekeeping" has been neglected in regards to retrieving BP baseballs, and it can't be positively determined which ball is which.....well, then I guess a piece of history is lost to the ages? You can't get em all, but one that goes directly into the hands of a fan, which is seen on National TV.....why not?

SS -

1st of all, my point wasn't about someone trying to sell the Genuine article later - just that they may want to keep the real deal and give up another ball they had for their own collection.

2nd - really, they 'mud' up the balls using 'Mississippi Mud'? I'll guess that you meant to say they Rub them up using Lena 'Slats' Blackburne's Rubbing Mud (which comes from an undisclosed Tributary of the Delaware River - NOT the Mississippi).

3rd - they are not always beat up and scuffed up... I've seen plenty of BP balls that looked like they were just prepped for the game that day - it is possible that here in Denver due to the Humidor, that once the balls are removed and prepped (rubbed up) that they do not put them back if not used in the game - MLB has 10-12 DOZEN Balls rubbed up before eavery MLB Game. Sometimes they ahve to rub up more - a game with lots of HRs or Foul Balls - and sometimes they don't come close to using them all - a game with lots of quick 1 pitch pop ups and such... the average lifespan of a Major League Ball is about 7 pitches

As far as being seen going into the fans hands on TV, as soon as they pan away, it's anybody's guess what happens with the ball unless the Authenticator is there before they take the Camera off of them.

My point being - particularly with the GS ball hit into center field forest at Coors Field (and as you stated above - "no matter which ball he presents to the MLB Authenticator, if it ISN'T the correct ball, it will be identified and globally accepted to be the real ball from the moment the sticker is placed on it") is that in some instances, there may always be that doubt as to whether it truly is the 'real deal' regardless of what the MLB Hologram states.

As I stated, I know the worker who retrieved the 'GS' ball and his statement when I asked him jokingly if he got the right ball was a smirk, shrugged his shoulders and said, 'I retrieved 'a' ball... once I handed it to MLB, they tagged it and called it OFFICIALLY became 'the' ball.' And I'll guarantee you that MLB didn't waste anytime looking to see if it looked more like a GU ball or a BP ball. Once it was tagged, it was a piece of history as far as they are concerned.

And for the record, you're self serving comment above - "Personally speaking, with a ton of experience in identifying and handling game-used baseballs, there is a significant difference in appearance that can be seen rather quickly." - doesn't mean you are the only person who knows anything about theose differences... I worked for Rawlings for 4 yeras down at Coors Field - trust me, I know my baseballs very well.

- Chris

[David]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

I was trying to politely skirt the issue. I hate to break it to, but I neither drink nor hate J.D. Drew.

[sportscentury]

Re: OT : Marlins rookie pays fan 'ransom' for HR ball

(Did I mention I've hated J.D. ever since he bailed on the Dodgers?)

He is still despised in Philly.

.