Zack Hample, a New York Yankees season ticket holder and man who caught A-Rod’s 3K hit ball, says he plans on keeping it.
By Robby Sabo
It looks as though the one person on the face of the Earth that Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees didn’t want catching that home run today, was this guy.
Zack Hample, who has supposedly caught over 8,000 MLB balls in his life, was the fortunate soul who snagged A-Rod’s first-inning home run today which happened to be his 3,000 career hit.
Hample plans on keeping the ball, and he doesn’t feel bad in the least.
On Thursday, Hample Tweeted this after he was asked what he’d do if he caught A-Rod’s 3K ball:
@Yankeefan98 I’ll give him the finger and a dummy ball. That man deserves favors from no one, least of all a fan.
— Zack Hample (@zack_hample) June 19, 2015
The Tweet was later deleted.
Season ticket holder Zack Hample of NYC caught the HR ball. Claims to have caught Trout’s first HR & last HR at Shea pic.twitter.com/Rvecr6b5xT
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 19, 2015
Of course Yankees personnel mobbed Hample once it was revealed he was the lucky soul who caught it. Hample would not give in to any negotiation. In fact, Newsday’s Mike Gavin posted a series of Tweets regarding Hample quotes post 3K:
Hample:”Someone like Jeter & Rodriguez whose made half a billion dollars in their career doesn’t really need a favor from a normal civilian”
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 19, 2015
Hample: “I don’t plan to give it back for a chance to meet him and four autographed bats cause I don’t collect bats. I collect baseballs.”
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 20, 2015
Said his initial intention was not to give the ball back because, “the guy who got Jeter’s 3,000th hit, a lot of people called him an idiot”
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 20, 2015
Hample has a website and Wikipedia page. He has written a book titled “How to Snag Major League Baseballs” Published in 1999.
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 20, 2015
Hample says Yankees offered him tons of memorabilia and promotion, but he turned them down. He has returned to his seat
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 20, 2015
Says he caught 8,000 baseballs, including BP, & never sold a single one. Would reconsider for a “life changing baseball.” Will test market
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 20, 2015
“And if I choose to keep it, well he has the bat that he used, he has the helmet he was wearing, he has the jock strap that he was wearing.”
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 20, 2015
Says he caught Trout’s his first career HR ball and gave it back for nothing: “With A-Rod, I don’t think he deserves charity or sympathy.”
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 20, 2015
Asked him if he’d have given Jeter his 3,000th ball if he had caught it:”I loved Jeter so much. I certainly would have considered it more.”
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 20, 2015
Hample says he takes pride in not selling balls. Gives most to kids & uses his collection to raise money for a children’s baseball charity
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 20, 2015
Strong quote from Hample: “It’s kind of like well, I don’t like you and I have something you want and you cant have it.” Continued….
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 20, 2015
“I wanted you to not take steroids and be the greatest of all time and you disappointed me. I still respect A-Rod, hes an amazing player…
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 20, 2015
….and I think he is pretty fan friendly but I have to hang on to this ball right now.”
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 20, 2015
Says he is not fond of A-Rod because of how he tarnished the game. “If I want to sell it, he’s welcome to come bid on it at auction.”
— Mike Gavin (@MikeGavin7) June 20, 2015
While Hample’s overall point is true, most are already starting to get sick and tired of the man – and it’s only been a few hours.
One thing is for sure, he sure does love the publicity.
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