Have you ever got a ball at a game before?

bh3443 · #1 06-13-2011, 09:35 AM

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

Quote:

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 · #2 06-13-2011, 10:39 AM

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 · #3 06-13-2011, 06:58 PM

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 · #4 06-13-2011, 08:06 PM

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.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Babe Ruth signed ball value	sylbry	Net54baseball Sports (Primarily) Vintage Memorabilia Forum incl. Game Used	12	07-31-2009 11:13 AM
OT: Need help identifying a baseball board game	Archive	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	15	01-04-2009 10:28 PM
C. 1900 Baseball Parlour Tabletop Game BIFFIT	Archive	Net54baseball Sports (Primarily) Vintage Memorabilia Forum incl. Game Used	2	12-15-2008 02:32 PM
vintage base ball game on TV	Archive	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	2	06-30-2004 02:08 PM
2002 ALL STAR GAME FARCE (and Selig,the puppet comissioner)	Archive	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	13	07-13-2002 02:07 PM