Lets Try Out Some Trivia on the New Board

[Jim VB]

I lied when I said that was my last guess.

THIS is my last guess (which makes "Ricky Ledee" my penultimate guess.):


Miguel Cairo?

[FrankWakefield]

Mientkiewicz caught that toss from the pitcher in 2004 that ended the WS with a Boston sweep... I was there, a Cardinals fan, to witness the loss. The Sox fans present were reverent as they watched the on field celebration. Mientkiewicz kept the ball, the Sox were mad about that and wanted it, MLB said he could keep it. I think it traveled around with the Championship trophy, and then made its way to Cooperstown. I suspect Mientkiewicz may well still own the ball.

[Peter_Spaeth]

If memory serves the Cardinals as the home team had the best claim of ownership. Unlike the Bonds home run ball about which there was a dispute as to ownership that was resolved by arbitration, this ball did not leave the field of play and was never "abandoned."

[FrankWakefield]

As I understand it, the home team owns the baseballs until the plate umpire asks for them. Once he asks for them, they go to MLB. As soon as the game ends, whoever has a baseball owns that baseball.... the home team owns the ones they still have, the plate umpire owns the ones in the bag, and whoever has the ball as the last out is made or winning run scores gets that ball.

To appreciate this, watch the plate umpire in the 9th inning. Before the inning starts he'll get 2 or 3 balls to fill his ball bag. Then, sometimes, with 1 or 2 outs, he'll turn to the home team dugout and hold up 4 fingers. Out runs the batboy with 4 baseballs. Then the last out is recorded. Once in the umpires' room, the plate umpire hands out balls to the rest of the umpire crew. They then give the balls away, or swap them for drinks or a meal back at the hotel after the game. (I apologize to all MLB umpires for letting that 'outa the bag', but it is so beautiful to see those 4 fingers flashed with 2 outs in the top of the ninth, when the plate umpire is standing there with 2 or 3 baseballs already in the bag.)

[RichardSimon]

You got it Jim,, Miguel Cairo.

[chris6net]

This was the question on SNY last night. Miguel Cairo would have been probably my last choice. Also Tony Clark played only 1 year year with each team. Great question Richard. CN