2,930 ‘Putouts’ Without Leaving the Stands

[Fenway]

This man needs serious help

( anybody here ever catch a ball? )

Hample, a 28-year-old from Manhattan, says he has collected 2,930 baseballs from 29 of the 30 current major league parks and a dozen former parks. He has yet to visit the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
“To call it a hobby is a nice way to put it,’’ he said. “Obsession would be more accurate.’’

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/10/sports/baseball/10cheer.html

[Paulwny]

[quote=fenway;1346726] ( anybody here ever catch a ball? )

Yep, 3 times once at a bison game , I was ~ 8yrs old

Twice as an adult, both hit by Kittle on check swings
one -- in Toronto
One ---Bison game, Kittle on rehab

[Unregistered]

I read about this guy here, actually:

http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=71020

And has he actually caught any of these balls or has he just whined and annoyed enough bullpen catchers to collect a handful of them at every game?

Get a job.

[SouthSide_HitMen]

Though he calls the Mets his favorite team, he is careful not to categorize himself as a Mets fan.

“Growing up, I actually found myself rooting against the Mets,’’ he said. “The more they lost, the emptier Shea became, and the less competition I had in terms of going after baseballs.’’

:rolleyes:

I caught a Paul Konerko BP HR at Tiger Stadium and a Derek Lee BP HR at Wrigley Field.

I've been to more games at Comiskey Park and The Cell yet never caught a ball at a White Sox home game (or during a game anywhere). :(:

[eriqjaffe]

I never caught a ball, but a friend of mine caught one off the bat of Harold Baines in the upper deck behind the plate at Old Comiskey...

It was United Airlines Scarf Night - I still have the scarf.

[daveeym]

I read about this guy here, actually:

http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=71020

And has he actually caught any of these balls or has he just whined and annoyed enough bullpen catchers to collect a handful of them at every game?

Get a job.That guys the biggest stroke I've ever seen. I thouht it was the same guy from that thread. I believe in his blog he flat out admits to taking balls tossed to kids and running off.

[chisoxfanatic]

I've never caught a ball; but, my boyfriend and I left our seats in the 5th inning of a game last year to meet up with a friend in the left field concourse. When we returned to our seats, the person behind us told me that a foul ball landed right in my seat. I figure I'll never catch a foul ball or home run.

[viagracat]

Never got a game ball in my life, and I've been to at least 200 games. The closest I ever got to one was when I was a kid back in the early '70s when my dad took me to Wrigley (he hated the Sox); we sat in the right-field bleachers and Billy Williams hit a homer that the guy right in front of me got. As it was the game-winning hit, there was a picture in the Trib next day of the homer as it landed with my dad, brother and myself clearly in the photo. I may still have that picture somewhere.

I also once saw a girl get hit right in the nose by a BP home run. She didn't even know it was coming. That was bad. :(:

I've always wondered what those "ballhawks" do for a living. Must be nice to have rich daddies. :rolleyes:

[LuvSox]

I have too many missed opportunities to mention here. :(:

[slobes]

I've caught a bunch at minor league games and semi-pro games, but none of them were too impressive.

[Scottiehaswheels]

Anymore I just try to get out of the way of foulballs... I don't like the idea of some 300lb guy jumping on my head or getting a beer shower during a cold April/October game

[TheKittle]

I've caught a ton of balls during BP and I give them away. Who cares? It's a damn BP ball. Though if it does make some kid happy, that's cool.

Never caught a ball during a game and the closest I've ever come was my first game ever, which will be 30 years ago Sept 25th.

[SoXPriDe33]

I got a BP ball in Milwaukee this year at a Brewer-Astro game.
My friend was hit by a ball in Milwaukee during BP at a Brewer-Pirate game and didn't even get the ball so he takes a lot of jokes when everyone that was at the game is around.

[Kub_Killer_15]

I got 3 from minor leaguers but I have never held a game used ML baseball in my life. That guy is just plain crazy I wonder where he sits at in the park?

[1951Campbell]

2,930 balls? screwing over kids to get some of them?
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PF/PF_1226057_999~Happy-Bunny-Hi-Loser-Posters.jpg

:rolleyes:

[batmanZoSo]

The prospect of catching a ball doesn't excite me in the least bit. It's a baseball. I've felt a baseball a million times. What an incredible loser. :?:

[chisoxfanatic]

I've caught a bunch at minor league games and semi-pro games, but none of them were too impressive.

If we're considering non-MLB games, then I got 2 in my lifetime. They were a home run ball by Ed Tolzien and a foul ball by Jared Dufault at Redbird Field in 2001 (when Neal Cotts was still on the team). I couldn't find them when I was packing up for moving back to my parents' house for the summer! :angry:

[chisoxfan64]

I never caught a ball, but a friend of mine caught one off the bat of Harold Baines in the upper deck behind the plate at Old Comiskey...

It was United Airlines Scarf Night - I still have the scarf.


I still have that scarf too.:D:

[buehrle4cy05]

I have a ball from Albert Pujols (game-used) and Matt Capps (BP). I want to get one at the Cell, but after that, everything I get is going to a kid.

[FedEx227]

I got 3 from minor leaguers but I have never held a game used ML baseball in my life. That guy is just plain crazy I wonder where he sits at in the park?

They are the most tightly wound balls you will ever lay your hands on.

[pearso66]

I've gotten 2 BP balls this year, but that is it. I can't wait to get a game used ball, but of course the ones I catch, none of those they now sell at the ballpark for $50-$100.