1549 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Last season when I attended a White Sox game in Detroit I stood out in the seats in left field during batting practice with about 10 other people while the sox took bp. I parked myself back from the main crowd by about 10 rows. I didn't think any balls would reach me, but I was more concerned with watching bp. Sure enough Frank Thomas hit a rocket headed right towards me, I didn't bring my mitt to the the game so I tried to catch a 385 ft. line drive bare handed. The ball smacked right off of my palm sending instant tingling up my arm, as for the ball it landed 5 rows in front of me. I wasn't sure whether I charge over seats to get to it, or if I should hold my hand in pain. I decided to hold my hand. I lost the ball, but I gave every one else who had seen this display a good laugh. As for my hand, it bruised nicely, and the seams were imprinted for a few days. I took a picture of it, and I was damn proud to show it to people. To bad I can't show off the ball. My other story was when I was attending batting practice at Comiskey (before the 2001 renevations shortened the along the foul lines). I was in left-center bleachers (they still existed then too), and an Oriole hitter pulled a wicked line drive. The ball was headed directly toward a sox fan who was conversing while standing right behind the raling that ran down the wall along the foul lines. The man conversing did not see the ball coming, and the ball smacked the raling with a loud *bing*, from where I was it looked the guy jumped 10 feet in the air in shock. Had the ball gone through the rungs in the railing, it would have hit him somewhere in the midsection. Probably taught him a lesson in paying attention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I caught one a long time ago. The ball bounced off a really drunk guy, then rolled past a chick who was trying to get out of the way and into my hands. I spilled a beer to get the ball There was this really nice kid (about 10) sitting near us and he was so sad that he didn't get to the ball, plus someone must have stepped on his foot and bumped him out of the way. His dad offered me a beer in trade for the ball. Then he offered a beer to all my friends for the ball. When he asked how many friends I had there, about 20 people rasied their hands. I figured the kid would cherish the ball more than I would. Too bad he didn't get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loaiza21 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I caught one a long time ago. The ball bounced off a really drunk guy, then rolled past a chick who was trying to get out of the way and into my hands. I spilled a beer to get the ball There was this really nice kid (about 10) sitting near us and he was so sad that he didn't get to the ball, plus someone must have stepped on his foot and bumped him out of the way. His dad offered me a beer in trade for the ball. Then he offered a beer to all my friends for the ball. When he asked how many friends I had there, about 20 people rasied their hands. I figured the kid would cherish the ball more than I would. Too bad he didn't get it. What a spoiled brat. The ball was clearly yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Never caught a HR ball.....but I have caught a foul ball at an A ball game.....woohoo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 My dad once caught a foul ball. We were sitting down the RF line if the 1st row. Carl Everett hit a screaming liner, and my dad reached out and caught. It was pretty neat beacuse they showed like 3 replays of it on TV. And I was on the replay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgeportHeather Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I was taking a jog behind the outfield wall at Redbird field here on the ISU campus during baseball season in 2001. It was batting practice, and the batter was Jared Dufault. He launched the ball over the left field wall, and it landed about 25 feet away from me. Because I was taking jog by myself, and there wasn't anyone else in the proximity, I was easily able to get the ball. Unfortunately that ball was pitched by Matt Hines instead of Neal Cotts. A couple batters later, Mike Saunches blasted one into the little creek behind the baseball field. I wasn't about to go in and get it, so I let that one go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 In 2000, in the Rollerdome, Torii Hunter hit a homer against us and it landed in the lap of the kid one row in front of us. Had it gone up one more row, it would have landed in my lap. Another thing that happened was that during batting practice, some ball bounced to JC Romero who was in left-center field, and he pointed to my little brother and had my dad give it to him. It was pretty damn cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Honda Civic Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I've been to one game where, with 3 other friends in attendance, we all left with a ball. Only one was an actual home run ball. Two were from BP, and one was a ground rule double. But, 4 balls ended up in the same area. I thought that was pretty amazing... And the first year of the Kane County cougars, I caught three foul balls in one game. Besides those two days, i've never even been close to one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 My little brother got a ball from Rick Ankiel as my brother was waiting above the dugout at a Cards game....that's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 When I was a lot younger I got a ball from Luis Gonzalez (When he was on the Angels) and one from Luis Sojo (on the angels) when standing in front of the dugout. Probably 7 or so. I caught one in the world series in San Diego and some jackass hit the ball back out of my hand and it got knocked on the field. I got it was bringing it up and the dumbass decided he thought he'd have it and bam it went flying and none of us got it. It was a sweet grab too, I one handed it, but it wasn't anything hit hard. Funniest thing ever was at a Dodger game. My dad and I are seating in the loge (2nd leve) in between first and home. Lance Johnson is up (Was with the Cubs) and whack ball is a shot coming back right as us. We both have our eyes on the ball wanting to catch it, then the people in front of us jump in our way but dive out at the last second. None of us can see the ball cause of this jackasses and the balls drills my dad in the gut, bounces into his arm and he dives down to get the ball. He got it...next day he had the stitches bruised into his gut (along with a black and blue mark) as well as his hand. I first asked if he was alright, then started lauhing my ass off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Not a baseball but during a Wolves pregame skate around my son and I were in the first row in a corner. My son was standing with his elbows on the boards below the glass when Rierdon was skating with a puck right at him (he was 6 or 7 at the time). I started to pull Brian as Reirdon wound up for a slap shot. At the last moment Reirdon scooped up the puck with his stick and dropped it over the glass Made me an instant fan of the team and Reirdon. I'm not certain if I spelled his name correctly. Last I heard he had a few years in the NHL and is now playing for a team in Ohio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest williestokes Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Weve caught lots of foul balls before (one from Don Mattingly was caught by my dad) but no home run balls... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwsox Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I figured the kid would cherish the ball more than I would. Too bad he didn't get it. A ball has never come close to getting to me in any bal park any time any where ever. If one does and I get it, no kid will get it either! You did the right thing - no freebies in this world Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnB Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I've never caught a HR ball, but i caught 2 foul balls in one game, almost 3. I think it was in '97 me, my brother and my dad were sitting behind home plate using our friends' season tickets. During batting practice ray durham tried to throw a ball to the upperdeck from the outfield, it was short and hit the net above home plate, rolled down to our seat and my dad caught it. Then later in the game, a foul ball went back toward hawk, then rolled down to our seats again. Then again in the same again, albert belle hit a towering popup right to my brother, he missed it, it hit the back of his chair and bounced up. That was by far, the best game i ever went to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Unless Frank Thomas can hit a homerun ball halfway across the world and into my house then sadly...... no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Be Good Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 THE only time I caught a HR ball is at batting pratice of a Mets-Braves game, and I really didnt catch it I ran for it under the bleachers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnB Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Unless Frank Thomas can hit a homerun ball halfway across the world and into my house then sadly...... no. you'd be suprised Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurlyMan56 Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I go to the games early for batting practice right when the gates usually open...I am almost guaranteed to get one as a homer,foul ball, or just players throwing them up in the stands...I have about 15-20 with many other ones going to little kids around me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I have gotten 3 different HR balls in BP. Hit by Dave Winfield, Bo Jackson (as a Royal), and Ron Kittle. Plus I have gotten numerous other balls from players tossing balls into the stands, and fielding balls during BP that were foul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bones Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I got a ball from batting practice in 1999 when the Sox were playing the Royals. It was the game that Chris Singleton hit for the cycle so I like to think that he hit it. Also, my friend got the Jose Valentin game winning home run ball against the Cubs this year. Pretty damn sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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