Have you ever got a ball at a game before?

[bh3443]

The year was 1978 and I just got my drivers license so my friends and I went to over 40 games that year at Fenway.
I liked to park behind the green monster up on the hill at this parking lot. I had a new Ford Thunderbird and these guys took good care of it while we were at the game. On Opening Day, I parked the car and we headed to the stadium when a ball came soaring over the green monster's net bounced on the street and literally two feet to my left! I caught it on the second bounce. We laughed at our good fortune and headed to watch the game.
The second time was a dramatic event also in 1978. While sitting near the Pesky pole we were watching batting practice when Yaz hit a high fly ball that would have been a foul ball that was falling from the sky right at my head! I reached up with both hands and caught the ball. The force was so great and my balance was off, so I fell over the seat behind me and proudly raised the ball in my left hand as I had not dropped it. The applause was embarrassing. My hands were red for a week!
BTW, back in the day one should never taught Dock Ellis! In a game when he was with Texas he was running towards the bullpen when someone near us swore at him. Dock went nuts and almost came over the fence into the stands but was restrained by his team-mates ( may have been Burroughs and Harrah).
Those we're the days in the late 70's! I can still taste the beer and smell the reefer that was such a sweet smelling cloud over friendly Fenway.

[sox1903wschamp]

Originally Posted by bh3443

I can still taste the beer and smell the reefer that was such a sweet smelling cloud over friendly Fenway.

Nice stories Bill! Are you sure that was the smell of reefer or maybe the aroma wafting from the restrooms . I was a Fenway rat my whole childhood catching just about every Saturday day game with the nieghborhood kids from North Waltham from 70-74. Never caught a ball when I was with the gang roaming the park but I do have 2 ball catching stories to share.

First was July 4th, 1972 at Fenway. Just me and Dad. I was 12. Close game against the Twins and we were sitiing in prime foul ball territory just past the Sox dugout maybe 10 rows up down the RF line. Up steps the immortal Juan Beniquez who rips a liner towards us but just behind us. Guy flubs it and caroms right to Dad who basket catches it and hands it to his 12 year old son. To this day the only ball me or Dad have ever captured. Next pitch Juan crushes a homer over the 420 sign and the Sox win 2-0 behind the also immortal Lynn McGlothlin's 3 hitter. Lynn was my favorite pitcher that year as he really did have a great year but then faded. To this day me and Dad kid everyone that he snared a liner one handed that day but it was cool none the less .

Second was at Royal's Stadium in Kansas City in the late 70's. Our Family had just moved from Boston to Kansas City and the Red Sox were in town. I was walking into the stadium bleachers in Left field with my Brother who is 6 years younger. Were still in the parking lot but almost to the gate before the game when all of a sudden a ball comes bounding to us. My nimble little brother was more alert and fields the ball. We thought it was someone playing catch and lost the ball but as we make our way into the Stadium we notice some players are looking up in the stands and pointing at us. Turns out that during batting practice Jim Rice had creamed one over the stands and it bounded out of the stadium to us. If anyone has ever been to Royal/Kaufmann stadium in KC you will know that it is an enormous poke to clear the stands in LF. Amost unfathomable. My Brother still has the ball to this day and it has to be just about the longest homer ever in KC. I keep telling him to get Rice's autograph on it but he is not the sports guy that I am

[Troy Kirk]

I did get a foul ball once at a game in the 1970s off the bat of Lance Parrish but don't know where the ball is now.

The funniest story though is when my friend went to a game. That week my fantasy baseball team was playing his team. One of my fantasy players, Bip Roberts, hit a ball at him and it deflected off him and he didn't get it, but it did draw some blood. I always thought it was funny that my fantasy player went after my opponent in the stands.

[itjclarke]

.. but there was still some amazing fate at work in SF in 2006, when during a weekend series against the Phils, Ray Durham hit not one, but TWO HR's directly to Arcade section 145, row 5, seat 12.. about 425 ft from the plate. I usually only wore my glove for Bonds, since he was the only person that ever hit them up there.. so for Durham HR #1, I had to try to slip my 1920's era Mel Ott model glove on while the ball was in mid flight. At the last instant I threw my 1/2 gloved hand upward, and the ball hit and deflected right off. I took crap from my buddy the rest of the night.

Next day and literally while in mid-story, telling the fans in front of us what had happened the night before, Ray smacked another one right toward me. Exact words as it approached were "No f-----g way". This time with glove on, the ball again found its way right to my Ott's tiny pocket.. only to be jarred loose by 2-3 other competing hands.

Two days, two HRs from the same guy, to the same seat.. dropped!

Saving grace, you couldn't make out my face on either of the TV replays.

[bh3443]

Michael! I loved those stories! Glad to know that you were a fellow Fenway rat like me! As for the reefer, it was generally coming from my seat or my friends! As you know, the ushers rarely said anything in the 70's.
Greatest Usher ever was my pal Morris, an usher from the 30's thru 70's. We'd smuggle beer in and pour it into his Incredible Hulk plastic cup!
We loved to taught all the players back then! I once asked Bill Campbell if he had any extra "greenies' (speed called Deximil!) and he laughed! George Scott was always checking out the females, too.
I loved watching Nolan Ryan give up 8 runs in 2/3 of an inning when with the Angels. He was taken out as we banged on the wall in the bleachers screaming "ATTICA"....lol.
We were a bit fresh back then but only one friend got thrown out. George Scott was like 0 for 50 and he finally reached base on balls. My pal rico jumped on the field ran to first and congratulated the Boomer! He was promptly ejected!
I grew up in Marlboro and was always in waltham back then! Great area and lots of memories.
Thanks for sharing your stories and have a spectacular day!
Bill Hedin

Originally Posted by sox1903wschamp

Nice stories Bill! Are you sure that was the smell of reefer or maybe the aroma wafting from the restrooms . I was a Fenway rat my whole childhood catching just about every Saturday day game with the nieghborhood kids from North Waltham from 70-74. Never caught a ball when I was with the gang roaming the park but I do have 2 ball catching stories to share.

First was July 4th, 1972 at Fenway. Just me and Dad. I was 12. Close game against the Twins and we were sitiing in prime foul ball territory just past the Sox dugout maybe 10 rows up down the RF line. Up steps the immortal Juan Beniquez who rips a liner towards us but just behind us. Guy flubs it and caroms right to Dad who basket catches it and hands it to his 12 year old son. To this day the only ball me or Dad have ever captured. Next pitch Juan crushes a homer over the 420 sign and the Sox win 2-0 behind the also immortal Lynn McGlothlin's 3 hitter. Lynn was my favorite pitcher that year as he really did have a great year but then faded. To this day me and Dad kid everyone that he snared a liner one handed that day but it was cool none the less .

Second was at Royal's Stadium in Kansas City in the late 70's. Our Family had just moved from Boston to Kansas City and the Red Sox were in town. I was walking into the stadium bleachers in Left field with my Brother who is 6 years younger. Were still in the parking lot but almost to the gate before the game when all of a sudden a ball comes bounding to us. My nimble little brother was more alert and fields the ball. We thought it was someone playing catch and lost the ball but as we make our way into the Stadium we notice some players are looking up in the stands and pointing at us. Turns out that during batting practice Jim Rice had creamed one over the stands and it bounded out of the stadium to us. If anyone has ever been to Royal/Kaufmann stadium in KC you will know that it is an enormous poke to clear the stands in LF. Amost unfathomable. My Brother still has the ball to this day and it has to be just about the longest homer ever in KC. I keep telling him to get Rice's autograph on it but he is not the sports guy that I am

[scmavl]

The only one I've gotten was when I threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a minor league game this year. The catcher brought it up to me as I was leaving the field.

I could've had one at the game yesterday, but I wasn't quick enough.

[mybuddyinc]

Mid-late 1990's at a Winston-Salem game (back when they were the Warthogs !!!). Standing at the rail of the concourse, just behind the seats. A high looping foul comes right at me, I mean I didn't have to move an inch. There was no one within ten feet of me, a guaranteed catch. I even caught sight of a little kid just to the right of me with his father. I was already to catch the ball and give it to the little kid, big time "hero" move. Well, needless to say, the ball went right through my hands and bounced down into the stands .............. sums up my Baseball skills and foul ball success in one story !!!!




My father, however, "caught" a foul ball at a Reading Phils game, in an odd way. He was a Trenton Thunder season ticket holder, but would go out to Reading a few times a year. A batter hits a long foul ball out of the park. Just like any good minor league club, the press box plays the "shattering glass" sound that clues the pa guy to say: "That foul ball was brought to you by Jack's Auto Glass, if it broke your window, Jack will replace it for free." Well, after the game, my father goes to his car, and the back window is completely shattered, with the foul ball sitting in the back seat !!! He got the free voucher, but probably didn't use it, being from out of town.


Great thread, great stories

[RichMcGillicuddy]

Went to Home Run Derby day at Wrigley for the 1990 All-Star game. During batting practice Frank Viola tossed a ball up into the Right Field bleachers that I got.

Also got one in 1977 at a White Sox game. Batting practice, kicked over to me by Jack Kucek. Got it signed by the late Francisco Barrios.