I caught a home run ball from JD Martinez! Now what??

[scooter729]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

My understanding is that if you catch a home run ball at a major league park in a real city like NY you ask the usher / security guard for help getting it authenticated. Then someone comes and takes you to authenticate the ball. Then you have ironclad proof even if you keep it. If JD goes on to have a HOF career then your kids or grandkids have the sticker and not just the story.
I understand that Boston is a third rate city but even so they have a customer service desk where they give buttons and stuff to kids who come for their first visit etc. Ask them for next time. Congrats on the pick up.. always cool to bring home a ball used in a game.
J

Thanks for the advice! I have been so busy attending championship parades the past 20 years I never had the chance to learn this.

My season ticket package is in a prime spot for HR balls so it may come in handy to know for another time - such as late October....

[bigfanNY]

Lol ... At this point what I would do is get the ball signed by JD. He is a Steiner guy and has done a couple public signings in the past year. Maybe if you bring the picture and pay the "Inscription" fee he will sign it as a HR ball. HR # 207 with date. That would kick it up a notch as a collectable. Just a thought
Enjoy the ball because I think I will be the one enjoying baseball in late Oct. This year

[yanks12025]

NO STADIUMS will put a MLB hologram on a baseball once in it goes into the crowed UNLESS its a milestone and the game was either marked prior to the game or they witnessed you catching it(like a players 1st or whatever).

I have heard some stadiums will give out a paper LOA saying you caught X ball or whatever but thats about it. When catching a homer its best to just take a bunch of photos with the ball while at the game right away. But in the end, its still just your word.

[bigfanNY]

I sit in outfield at Yankee stadium and more than once in past two years I saw usher go up to person who cought a HR ball and ask first if they were ok and next if they wanted to authenticate it. I guess the key phrase is that stadium personnel witnessed the catch. I think both were Aaron Judge HR's.

[scooter729]

The MLB Authentication website supports Brock’s description, so Yankee Stadium either has its own additional authentication process, or Judge’s homers were all deemed special enough to authenticate.

I probabiy will get JD to sign this one at some point - I have a connection with the Sox who should be able to get this one signed for me at some point. I probably used up my favors for a while for this year already, but will get it to happen at some point!

Thanks again guys - appreciate the input...

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by scooter729

I probabiy will get JD to sign this one at some point

It's your ball, so take this with however many grains of salt as you like, but I wouldn't get it signed.

I've gotten one home run ball: a 2007 Damion Easley pinch-hit homer that was commemorated with a Topps card...



...and, on the secondary market, I got one of the three balls that was used in the at-bat where Todd Frazier hit the home run I famously objected to (see Net 54 thread here).

I would not get either ball signed by any of the participants.

To me, getting the ball signed would destroy its "integrity" as a game-used item. The ball wasn't signed when it was put into play, so it shouldn't be signed now.

I think they make special cases that display two baseballs, so in lieu of getting the actual home run baseball signed, you might want to consider getting a JD Martinez signed ball and displaying it next to the home run ball you caught.

[bigfanNY]

That is like saying not to get a game used bat or game used Jersey signed because that is not how it appeared in game. I understand your preference. But the secondary market Clearly puts greater value on game used items with Signatures.
I have a Miguel Cabrera ball game used for a hit that he signed and inscribed the hit#. It displays great and tells it's own story.
JD Martinez is not Damien Easley ( but even that ball I would get signed) he is one of less than a handful of hitters that is capable of winning battings triple crown. And for now looks to have a bright future so the ball might have some significance down the road. I give a hearty thumbs up for getting it signed. And I would go to signing with the 7 year old who would remember it for the rest of his life. Just my preference..

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by scooter729

Thanks for the advice! I have been so busy attending championship parades the past 20 years I never had the chance to learn this.

My season ticket package is in a prime spot for HR balls so it may come in handy to know for another time - such as late October....

^^^^^ this is why the rest of us have Boston Fatigue.

[scooter729]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

^^^^^ this is why the rest of us have Boston Fatigue.

For the record, I'm not THAT arrogant - it was only said that way in response to my Yankee-loving friend who had made snide comments my way just before that!

[bigfanNY]

For the record I did throw a couple rivalry comments in my reply and have no problem at all with the reply. Red Sox fans waited 80 years for the sun to turn around and shine. And Fans need to enjoy it while it lasts.
Yankees vs Red Sox is the best rivalry in sports. I for one enjoy it, I enjoyed it more when it was one sided our way but it's still fun.

[scooter729]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

For the record I did throw a couple rivalry comments in my reply and have no problem at all with the reply. Red Sox fans waited 80 years for the sun to turn around and shine. And Fans need to enjoy it while it lasts.
Yankees vs Red Sox is the best rivalry in sports. I for one enjoy it, I enjoyed it more when it was one sided our way but it's still fun.

Well said - nothing beats it when both teams are playing well and the games take on added importance! Looking forward to the London games next week....

[Copa7]

Our minor league team is having a JD Martinez bobblehead night later this year.

I'll be getting in line. Enjoy the ball. It's a cool moment.