Another great night out at the BIG "A" for me!
Since the Angels clinched the division on Wed. tickets for the rest of the year are almost less than Minor League prices. $3 for almost every seat in the upper deck and $8 for most of the seats in the lower deck. I chose to simple go out and pay $3 to get in but I was only going to stay for BP (Batting practice).
The gates opened at 5:00 and I went to my usual spot in the right field corner. In the first 10 minutes of BP every choice I made was a bad one. Someone had beaten me to my regular spot. Instead of just staying in the spot to his right I moved around. Every time I changed my positioning a ball went to the spot I was just in. The kid that got my usual spot got 2 balls that I could have easily snagged. Then it was my turn with a roller hit down the line I leaned over the wall and stretched out to snag ball #1 hit by Kendry Morales.
Shortly after that ball Morales hit another ball that slowly rolled towards the wall. It sat about half a foot from the wall and easily within reach if I leaned over the wall. I went over to the spot where the ball was and leaned over and scooped up my 2nd ball of the day. Shortly after I got it the Security guard comes over to me and says "You can't lean over that far."
I responded to him with "Look, I have been coming here for 20 years and I know the rules." He then proceeded to tell me that some things have changed. I had about a million things that I could have said but you don't want to piss off a minimum wage security guard! Anyway, I have to admit he was cool since he gave away quite a few balls to fans both young and old. I know that he could lose his job for that but I won't tell anyone that he did it.
Ball #3 came off the bat of Ichiro as he hit in the first group for the Mariners. Ichiro hit a nice fly ball into the corner near the foul pole that hit on the warning track and bounced into the seats where it hit a chair and rolled away from the guy chasing it and right to me.
About 3 swings after ball #3 was snagged Ichiro hit another fly ball down the right field line. For those of you that don't know Angels stadium during BP in the right field corner you are looking directly into the sun. As this ball went up not only did I have to deal with the Sun but it was headed right at the foul pole. As it started to come down I lost it behind the pole and then in the sun. I stuck out my glove but the ball sailed past it, hit a seat and flew back onto the field.
Ball #4 was my second of the night hit by Ichiro and it came in his final round of BP. Ichiro launched another fly ball towards the foul pole in right. I was back a couple of rows in the seats and as it got closer I knew that it was going to hit close to the wall. The guy that had snagged a couple of balls that I should have had was right next to me as the ball came down. We both reached for it and thankfully it ended up in my glove!
My 5th and final ball of the day came off the bat of Tug Hullett. Tug is the son of former Major Leaguer Tim Hullett who played for the White Sox and Orioles. In fact some of the baseballs I caught in my younger days were hit by his dad at Old Comiskey Park in Chicago. Anyway, the ball that Tug hit went well over my head and I was just about to give up on it when all of the sudden I see it flying right back at me. It had hit a seat back and rebounded right at my head. I stuck up my glove and made the grab!
So for $3 and just staying for BP I did pretty well. I ended up with 5 baseballs of which 3 are almost brand new and good for autographs!
On a side note on Wednesday I went down to the stadium to get autographs. I hung out by the Angels parking lot and the only guy that stopped to sign was Chone Figgins.
- 3 consecutive games with 4 or more baseballs
Another Close Call for #100 - 8/28/08 Angels vs. Rangers - Angels Stadium - Anaheim, CA
Here we go with another near miss for me on Game HR #100 of my illustrious Ballhawking career. This is going to be a long post but it has a few cool stories.
It all started around 1:15 when I arrived at the stadium. My hopes were to get Josh Hamilton to sign a ball. After being there about 20 minutes a Doubletree bus pulled up and 4 Rangers coaches got off of the bus. Usually right after this the bus turns around and goes back out, however this time it went all the way to the back of the stadium. Obviously there was someone else on board. It turns out that someone else was Hamilton. A guy came over a few minutes later showing off his Home Run Derby Gold Ball signed on the sweet spot by Hamilton that he got signed at the hotel just a few minutes before he left to go to the stadium. I even went back to the hotel on Friday and still no luck as the driver of the "short" bus kicked 2 guys out and was standing there as Hamilton got came out for the bus so there was no chance of getting him.
Shortly after I found out that Hamilton was in I walked around to the Angels parking lot. I had a Home Run ball from a minor league game that was hit by Howie Kendrick. It would havfe been nice to get it signed but her drove up, waved and did not sign for anyone. That was the case for most of the Angels on Thursday except for one!
Tori Hunter drove up and say the 5 or 6 of us holding up pens and balls and he did stop. He rolled down his window and started signing and also had an interesting conversation with one of the fans there.
The fan said something to Hunter about how he was going to have a great game and go 4 for 4. The guy then got a little crazy saying he would hit for the cycle nad some other stuff. Tori came back and said to us, "I tell ya what, if I go 4 for 4 I will buy you guys a beer!" After Hunter left we all just laughed it off thinking that it was unlikely. We could not have been more wrong! Hunter ended up 3 for 3, the only thing that held us back from our beers was the fact that he walked in his first at bat. The worst part is that Vladdy mad the final Angels out of the game killing the chance of Tori going 4 for 4. If Tori had gone 4 for 4 you can be that we all would have shown up by the Angels parking lot the next day.
So after all of that I headed back around to the front of the stadium. Once I was up there I noticed a guy with a young kid who looked very familiar. I could not figure out if I knew him from Angels games in the past or if maybe it was someone I had met while working for the Rangers in Port Charlotte, Florida in 2000. It turns out that the boy with him was his grand-nephew and that I knew him from going to Angels games back in the late 80's / early 90's. Back then he brought his son, Brandon, to the games to get autographs and occasionally chase baseballs. It is always cool to see some of the people that used to hang out at the BIG A back when getting autographs was really fun!
Just before it was time to get in line to go into the stadium I ran into a MLBlog readers PadreLeigh and TC who is better known as TracyCollinsBecky in the comment section.
I was first in line and the first into the stadium! I ran out to what used to be my favorite spot down the right field line. It's a spot where most of the balls that are hit down the line funnel to so there is a good chance to get more than one ball. As I got down there a ball was headed towards the wall rolling very slow. It stopped right at the wall and I leaned over and picked it up. I am one of the few that can actually lean over the wall without falling onto the field. The ball itself was basically brand new with a few grass stains.
As I was looking at my latest addition to my collection I hear the security guy telling me that I have to give it back and as he is saying that Scot Shields is yelling the same thing at me holding up his glove. The security guard come over and says to me, "Man you got to give it back, it's too early for this (leaning over the wall?)"
My response was "There is NO WAY I am giving a ball back, I didn't do anything wrong!" Shields was still telling me I had to give it back as well. The security guard kept saying that he was going to call security to take me out. I just laughed at him and said go ahead, and when you talk to them tell the head guy I said HI! I am pretty sure that he knows who I am.
Shortly after that Shields said, "I'm just kidding man, you don't have to give it back." I told him I obviously knew that and he knows I am there way to much to think otherwise. The security guy laughed and walked back to his crappy minimum wage paying job. Give a guy a radio and a shirt that says SECURITY and he thinks that he can be funny when he is actually being an idiot! I am guessing that had I been some stupid kid the security guy would have taken the ball and thrown it back in.
That was my first ball of the day, about 2 minutes after that a ball was hit into the seats down the right field line. There was no one around and I ran about 3 sections over to chase it. It was hit about 10 rows up but I knew that it would roll down to me and of course it did. Ball #2, another ball that was almost a pearl.
As batting practice went on several balls were hit into the center field area with no seats. The usher from the left field family section gets those and gives them away. Thankfully my friend JOE was the usher working that section and I talked him out of one of the balls that Josh Hamilton hit out there(ball#3) Hamilton put on an exhibition of hitting when he was in the cage. One his massive blast was a 450 ft shot that landed in the first row of the second section of seats in right field! These seats are about 27 rows up from the outfield wall. It was the longest ball I had ever seen hit to right field! Hamilton also hit several balls to the center field back drop and rock pile that stayed and got hung up on the Rocks. After BP I went around and asked one of the TV guys for one of the balls and he glady went over , picked on up and handed it to me! (ball #4)
Ok so onto the game now, I was sitting in the right field corner where there was a decent chance that if a home run was hit I would have a shot at it. In the 3rd inning of the game Mark Teixeira came up and hit a blast right towards the section next to me. As I watched the ball I tried to get into position for whatever direction it might bounce. Unfortunately there was no bounce at all. I still tried to make my way around the seats to the little side aisle along the fence to get down to it but by that time it was too late. A guy that was sitting down front got up to it and it rolled down a row right to him. DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!
Another close call for game home run #100. Here is a screen shot from TV showing me and where the ball hit and the guy picked it up!
Overall it turned out to be a decent day with me getting 4 baseballs that are good enough to get autographs on at future games. I saw old friends and met knew ones and just had a good time!
4 BALLS - 1 Autograph
8/13/08 - Phillies vs. Dodgers @ Dodger Stadium - A Great Night!
It looked as if I was not going to make any game at all on Wednesday night. Both the Angels and Dodgers were in town. At the last minute the decision was made to go to the Dodgers game and to sit in the ALL YOU CAN EAT PAVILION in Right Field.
We pulled into the parking lot at 5:30 which was alread 20 minutes after the gates opened. We walked into Autograph Alley (centerfield) as we got up to the stadium because the gates for RF do not open until 5:40. Jimmy Campanis was signing autographs and you can also walk out onto the warning track in Center Field during BP.
5:40 hit and we headed off to the AYCEP and up to the seats. I was standing on the aisle right off of Section 308. After having a few balls sail over my head hit by Chase Utley and another Phillie, possibly Greg Dobbs, Ryan Howard stepped in the cage. Howard then hits a towering drive right towards me. I step back a row and made the catch.(ball #1)
I have to admit I was nervous about this because I am back to using my $12 Wal-Mart special glove. The Wilson A200, yes A200, not A2000! My glove is the cheap plastic version of that but ya know what, IT WORKS!!
Shortly after that Geoff Jenkins was shagging out in right field and tossed a ball up into the stands. It bounced off of about 5 sets of hands and hit the first row where I was waiting for it and picked it up! (ball #2)
Shortly after I grab this one some out of shape overweight wannabe softball player comes over and stands right next to me telling me that I have gotten enough and that I should give the balls to kids etc. Ok so I am not in the greatest shape and I too am/was a wannabe softball player but at least I bring a glove to the game so I can catch a ball!
Chase Utley stepped in for his last couple of swings and hits one right at me and Mr. Softball. He is just to my left as we stand in the stairwell. Thankfully the ball was hit just to my right and far enough to where I could reach for it and he was not going to have a chance at it unless he grabbed my arm or something crazy like that. As the ball came down he stuck his hand in front of my face and across my body. I stuck out my Wal-Mart special and the ball went past his bare hand and right into my glove. (Ball #3) If Mr. Softball had a glove with him he might have actually been able to make the catch.
#1 rule of Ballhawking: ALWAYS BRING A GLOVE!!
Right after I caught my 3rd ball of the day he proclaimed that I would not get another ball and then he proceeded to stand almost right in the middle of the aisle blocking the staircase. The best part of it was that the last group of the Phillies were all right handed and there wasn't a ball hit out to RF. However I knew that there was going to be at least one more chance for a baseball.
Phillies coach Gregg Legg (great name) was another person that was patrolling right field during BP. There was a group of people that kept yelling at him for a ball. Even I jumped into yelling, "Hey Legg let's see that Arm!!" Ok so that really wasn't as funny as I thought. Anyway, a ball was hit towards Legg and I was 99% sure that he would throw it up to the group of people just to my left. The only problem, MR. SOFTBALL, was right in the way of the open row to get to it. No problem though, I saw the group of people and figured that most likely it was going to bounce off of their hands and fall to the concourse below. So I went around MR. Softball and down the stairs as if I was going to the bathroom. Just as I got down the stairs the ball fell from above and right into my glove.(ball #4) OH was Mr. Softball mad, if he was only as smart as a Ballhawk!!
Shortly after that Batting practice was I headed off to the concessions area for the ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET!!
It is simply a great deal, especially when you get a promotion code that reduces the tickets from $40 plus ticketmaster fees all the way down to $25.25 which includes the TM fees. On the menu in the AYCEP was Dodger Dogs, Peanuts, Popcorn, Nachos, Soda and Water. It may not seem like a lot but it is still well worth the price.
So now I have had my first and even a second fill of food and I am ready for the game. As the Dodgers come out to take the field in the first inning I head down towards the same spot that I was during batting practice. Every half inning the Dodger outfielders throw up the balls after they are done warming up. Andre Either in RF and Matt Kemp in CF will switch off during the game taking turns tossing the ball up. Andre Eithier was first and there I was standing right in the aisle with my glove in the air. Eithier looked right at me and launched the ball in my direction. As it got closer I realized that it was going to be a little bit high. I ended up having to jump for, yes I actually got off the ground, and made the catch.(ball #5)
And now onto the game, in the first inning the Phillies Ryan Howard homered to left field and the Gregg Dobbs homered to right. In fact the Dobbs home run went to the gap between the wall and the seats. If we had not moved up to the big aisle and stayed in the front row where we were the entire time during BP most likely I would have retrieved Dobbs' home run.
The games goes into the 3rd inning and up comes Manny. I head down underneath the Pavilion seats to a place where I think Manny could hit an opposite field HR. The picture here shows the view of the gap between the seats and the wall. It also shows where I was and were Manny's home run hit.
As the ball went up I thought I might be in pretty good shape. As you see on the replay and in the other picture as the ball comes down my head pops up as I climb over the railing to go after the ball. If the ball stays in the gap between the stairs and the wall it's mine, I am positive of that as I was the first person there. Way back in 1987 at my first Dodger game I was in the Left Field pavilion and picked up a Mike Schmidt HR that someone misplayed. It fell in the gap right in front of me.
Anyway back to Manny's home run, as I hop the railing I see the ball bounce off the railing going up the stairs, hit the concrete walkway and go right back out onto the field. As I go up the next staircase to try and get it as they toss it into the stands I see it go towards the staircase it hit off of. A lady about to go up the stairs carrying 3 or 4 beers got a great surprise in her tray as the ball landed right in it.
Yes it was a little frustrating knowing that I was so close to my 100th career game home run and a little ironic that in a past post I mention how it would be cool for that HR to be hit by Manny.
At least I know that I am still pretty good at figuring out where some of these guys can hit home runs. There really is a little more than luck when it comes to getting baseballs!
The game was pretty exciting, the Phillies were up 6-1 at one point and the Dodgers chipped away capping it off with a Nomar Garciaparra home run in the 9th. After the game we went out to see if we could get some Phillies autographs. We saw a few of the players come out however none of them were really in the mood to sign seeing as how they blew 2 games in 2 nights in the 9th inning. The one person that did stop to talk and sign was Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas. Here is a picture that I had taken of myself with Mr. Kalas. The really cool thing, he is from Chicago too!
It was definitely a great night at Dodgers Stadium and good to finally have a night where I felt like I was back in form. I am pretty sure that game home run #100 is going to happen soon!
Tonights Totals:
5 Balls
4 Nachos
7 Cokes
2 Bags of Popcorn
1 Bottle of Water
1 Harry Kalas photo & autograph
Remeber you can email me at mlballhawk@gmail.com
08/07/08 - Lake Elsinore Storm vs. High Desert Mavericks
I went to Lake Elsinore for the game on Thursday night. It was more of a last minute thing to do but it was actually entertaining. It all started with the bathroom sign, ya gotta love the guy trying to hold it! Yes, the womens sign is about the same. Ok so maybe not a great way to start off a new posting but it was funny to me!
With minor league games batting practice is usually over by the time you get in the park and at Lake Elsinore you can't even walk around the outfiled fence to find baseballs because the entire stadium in enclosed. So you have to rely on getting baseballs either by players or coaches throwing them to you or by catching one during the game.
Thursday nights game was USED CAR NIGHT and thirsty thursday. So it was a decent crowd and I was really more into just watching the game and hopefully winning one of those clunkers.
Just before the game started former Yankee Shane Spencer was standing in front of the dugout and one of the people I was with saw that he had a ball. We all yelled at him and he tossed it up and I caught it. So I am claiming this one for my totals. I know it may be lame but if other "Ballhawks" can yell at players and beg for balls most of the time then I can count this one!!
Anyway, that was it for balls but not for entertainment. The Storm have a player names Brian Joynt and this is what the scoreboard looked like when they put him up during his at bats. Was it unintentional??? I am guessing it was but it sure is funny!!
Even the PA announcer got into the entertainment as he always does by just spitting out random names for the batters of the opposing team. He even used "HOMIE THE CLOWN" for one of the Mavericks batters. Not exactly the most professional of things to do but it's minor league baseball and it is all about entertainment!!
July 11, 2008
Gary Carter and the O.C. Flyers
I ended up at Cal State Fullerton's Goodwin Field on Friday night to check out the Orange County Flyers and their new Hall Of Fame manager Gary Carter.
I actually worked for the Flyers in their first 2 years as the Director of Concessions (05) and Clubhouse Manager(06). It was great to see our old GM Ed Hart at the game. Another familiar face wandering the ballpark in the late innings was Brian Giles. No not the current Padres Brian Giles but the original Padres Brian Giles.
I really didn't go to the game expecting to get a ball. We simply went to get a couple of things signed by Gary Carter. As I made my way over to 1st base side to get Carter after the game I stood at the top of the stands. The last batter of the game hit a foul ball off of the big net that protects the softball field seats. It fell down and off a seat and bounced right to me where I bare handed it.
2 pitches later the Flyers won the game and clinched the first half championship of the Southern Division of the GBL.
Congratulations to the OC Flyers, Gary Carter, Darrell Evans and Dan DiPace!
Game Total = 1 ball
_________________________________________________________________
July 10, 2008
Ballhawking --
If they can do it I CAN-TU!
Another great night out at the BIG "A" for me!
Since the Angels clinched the division on Wed. tickets for the rest of the year are almost less than Minor League prices. $3 for almost every seat in the upper deck and $8 for most of the seats in the lower deck. I chose to simple go out and pay $3 to get in but I was only going to stay for BP (Batting practice).
The gates opened at 5:00 and I went to my usual spot in the right field corner. In the first 10 minutes of BP every choice I made was a bad one. Someone had beaten me to my regular spot. Instead of just staying in the spot to his right I moved around. Every time I changed my positioning a ball went to the spot I was just in. The kid that got my usual spot got 2 balls that I could have easily snagged. Then it was my turn with a roller hit down the line I leaned over the wall and stretched out to snag ball #1 hit by Kendry Morales.
Shortly after that ball Morales hit another ball that slowly rolled towards the wall. It sat about half a foot from the wall and easily within reach if I leaned over the wall. I went over to the spot where the ball was and leaned over and scooped up my 2nd ball of the day. Shortly after I got it the Security guard comes over to me and says "You can't lean over that far."
I responded to him with "Look, I have been coming here for 20 years and I know the rules." He then proceeded to tell me that some things have changed. I had about a million things that I could have said but you don't want to piss off a minimum wage security guard! Anyway, I have to admit he was cool since he gave away quite a few balls to fans both young and old. I know that he could lose his job for that but I won't tell anyone that he did it.
Ball #3 came off the bat of Ichiro as he hit in the first group for the Mariners. Ichiro hit a nice fly ball into the corner near the foul pole that hit on the warning track and bounced into the seats where it hit a chair and rolled away from the guy chasing it and right to me.
About 3 swings after ball #3 was snagged Ichiro hit another fly ball down the right field line. For those of you that don't know Angels stadium during BP in the right field corner you are looking directly into the sun. As this ball went up not only did I have to deal with the Sun but it was headed right at the foul pole. As it started to come down I lost it behind the pole and then in the sun. I stuck out my glove but the ball sailed past it, hit a seat and flew back onto the field.
Ball #4 was my second of the night hit by Ichiro and it came in his final round of BP. Ichiro launched another fly ball towards the foul pole in right. I was back a couple of rows in the seats and as it got closer I knew that it was going to hit close to the wall. The guy that had snagged a couple of balls that I should have had was right next to me as the ball came down. We both reached for it and thankfully it ended up in my glove!
My 5th and final ball of the day came off the bat of Tug Hullett. Tug is the son of former Major Leaguer Tim Hullett who played for the White Sox and Orioles. In fact some of the baseballs I caught in my younger days were hit by his dad at Old Comiskey Park in Chicago. Anyway, the ball that Tug hit went well over my head and I was just about to give up on it when all of the sudden I see it flying right back at me. It had hit a seat back and rebounded right at my head. I stuck up my glove and made the grab!
So for $3 and just staying for BP I did pretty well. I ended up with 5 baseballs of which 3 are almost brand new and good for autographs!
On a side note on Wednesday I went down to the stadium to get autographs. I hung out by the Angels parking lot and the only guy that stopped to sign was Chone Figgins.
- 3 consecutive games with 4 or more baseballs
Another Close Call for #100 - 8/28/08 Angels vs. Rangers - Angels Stadium - Anaheim, CA
Here we go with another near miss for me on Game HR #100 of my illustrious Ballhawking career. This is going to be a long post but it has a few cool stories.
It all started around 1:15 when I arrived at the stadium. My hopes were to get Josh Hamilton to sign a ball. After being there about 20 minutes a Doubletree bus pulled up and 4 Rangers coaches got off of the bus. Usually right after this the bus turns around and goes back out, however this time it went all the way to the back of the stadium. Obviously there was someone else on board. It turns out that someone else was Hamilton. A guy came over a few minutes later showing off his Home Run Derby Gold Ball signed on the sweet spot by Hamilton that he got signed at the hotel just a few minutes before he left to go to the stadium. I even went back to the hotel on Friday and still no luck as the driver of the "short" bus kicked 2 guys out and was standing there as Hamilton got came out for the bus so there was no chance of getting him.
Shortly after I found out that Hamilton was in I walked around to the Angels parking lot. I had a Home Run ball from a minor league game that was hit by Howie Kendrick. It would havfe been nice to get it signed but her drove up, waved and did not sign for anyone. That was the case for most of the Angels on Thursday except for one!
Tori Hunter drove up and say the 5 or 6 of us holding up pens and balls and he did stop. He rolled down his window and started signing and also had an interesting conversation with one of the fans there.
The fan said something to Hunter about how he was going to have a great game and go 4 for 4. The guy then got a little crazy saying he would hit for the cycle nad some other stuff. Tori came back and said to us, "I tell ya what, if I go 4 for 4 I will buy you guys a beer!" After Hunter left we all just laughed it off thinking that it was unlikely. We could not have been more wrong! Hunter ended up 3 for 3, the only thing that held us back from our beers was the fact that he walked in his first at bat. The worst part is that Vladdy mad the final Angels out of the game killing the chance of Tori going 4 for 4. If Tori had gone 4 for 4 you can be that we all would have shown up by the Angels parking lot the next day.
So after all of that I headed back around to the front of the stadium. Once I was up there I noticed a guy with a young kid who looked very familiar. I could not figure out if I knew him from Angels games in the past or if maybe it was someone I had met while working for the Rangers in Port Charlotte, Florida in 2000. It turns out that the boy with him was his grand-nephew and that I knew him from going to Angels games back in the late 80's / early 90's. Back then he brought his son, Brandon, to the games to get autographs and occasionally chase baseballs. It is always cool to see some of the people that used to hang out at the BIG A back when getting autographs was really fun!
Just before it was time to get in line to go into the stadium I ran into a MLBlog readers PadreLeigh and TC who is better known as TracyCollinsBecky in the comment section.
I was first in line and the first into the stadium! I ran out to what used to be my favorite spot down the right field line. It's a spot where most of the balls that are hit down the line funnel to so there is a good chance to get more than one ball. As I got down there a ball was headed towards the wall rolling very slow. It stopped right at the wall and I leaned over and picked it up. I am one of the few that can actually lean over the wall without falling onto the field. The ball itself was basically brand new with a few grass stains.
As I was looking at my latest addition to my collection I hear the security guy telling me that I have to give it back and as he is saying that Scot Shields is yelling the same thing at me holding up his glove. The security guard come over and says to me, "Man you got to give it back, it's too early for this (leaning over the wall?)"
My response was "There is NO WAY I am giving a ball back, I didn't do anything wrong!" Shields was still telling me I had to give it back as well. The security guard kept saying that he was going to call security to take me out. I just laughed at him and said go ahead, and when you talk to them tell the head guy I said HI! I am pretty sure that he knows who I am.
Shortly after that Shields said, "I'm just kidding man, you don't have to give it back." I told him I obviously knew that and he knows I am there way to much to think otherwise. The security guy laughed and walked back to his crappy minimum wage paying job. Give a guy a radio and a shirt that says SECURITY and he thinks that he can be funny when he is actually being an idiot! I am guessing that had I been some stupid kid the security guy would have taken the ball and thrown it back in.
That was my first ball of the day, about 2 minutes after that a ball was hit into the seats down the right field line. There was no one around and I ran about 3 sections over to chase it. It was hit about 10 rows up but I knew that it would roll down to me and of course it did. Ball #2, another ball that was almost a pearl.
As batting practice went on several balls were hit into the center field area with no seats. The usher from the left field family section gets those and gives them away. Thankfully my friend JOE was the usher working that section and I talked him out of one of the balls that Josh Hamilton hit out there(ball#3) Hamilton put on an exhibition of hitting when he was in the cage. One his massive blast was a 450 ft shot that landed in the first row of the second section of seats in right field! These seats are about 27 rows up from the outfield wall. It was the longest ball I had ever seen hit to right field! Hamilton also hit several balls to the center field back drop and rock pile that stayed and got hung up on the Rocks. After BP I went around and asked one of the TV guys for one of the balls and he glady went over , picked on up and handed it to me! (ball #4)
Ok so onto the game now, I was sitting in the right field corner where there was a decent chance that if a home run was hit I would have a shot at it. In the 3rd inning of the game Mark Teixeira came up and hit a blast right towards the section next to me. As I watched the ball I tried to get into position for whatever direction it might bounce. Unfortunately there was no bounce at all. I still tried to make my way around the seats to the little side aisle along the fence to get down to it but by that time it was too late. A guy that was sitting down front got up to it and it rolled down a row right to him. DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!
Another close call for game home run #100. Here is a screen shot from TV showing me and where the ball hit and the guy picked it up!
Overall it turned out to be a decent day with me getting 4 baseballs that are good enough to get autographs on at future games. I saw old friends and met knew ones and just had a good time!
4 BALLS - 1 Autograph
8/13/08 - Phillies vs. Dodgers @ Dodger Stadium - A Great Night!
It looked as if I was not going to make any game at all on Wednesday night. Both the Angels and Dodgers were in town. At the last minute the decision was made to go to the Dodgers game and to sit in the ALL YOU CAN EAT PAVILION in Right Field.
We pulled into the parking lot at 5:30 which was alread 20 minutes after the gates opened. We walked into Autograph Alley (centerfield) as we got up to the stadium because the gates for RF do not open until 5:40. Jimmy Campanis was signing autographs and you can also walk out onto the warning track in Center Field during BP.
5:40 hit and we headed off to the AYCEP and up to the seats. I was standing on the aisle right off of Section 308. After having a few balls sail over my head hit by Chase Utley and another Phillie, possibly Greg Dobbs, Ryan Howard stepped in the cage. Howard then hits a towering drive right towards me. I step back a row and made the catch.(ball #1)
I have to admit I was nervous about this because I am back to using my $12 Wal-Mart special glove. The Wilson A200, yes A200, not A2000! My glove is the cheap plastic version of that but ya know what, IT WORKS!!
Shortly after that Geoff Jenkins was shagging out in right field and tossed a ball up into the stands. It bounced off of about 5 sets of hands and hit the first row where I was waiting for it and picked it up! (ball #2)
Shortly after I grab this one some out of shape overweight wannabe softball player comes over and stands right next to me telling me that I have gotten enough and that I should give the balls to kids etc. Ok so I am not in the greatest shape and I too am/was a wannabe softball player but at least I bring a glove to the game so I can catch a ball!
Chase Utley stepped in for his last couple of swings and hits one right at me and Mr. Softball. He is just to my left as we stand in the stairwell. Thankfully the ball was hit just to my right and far enough to where I could reach for it and he was not going to have a chance at it unless he grabbed my arm or something crazy like that. As the ball came down he stuck his hand in front of my face and across my body. I stuck out my Wal-Mart special and the ball went past his bare hand and right into my glove. (Ball #3) If Mr. Softball had a glove with him he might have actually been able to make the catch.
#1 rule of Ballhawking: ALWAYS BRING A GLOVE!!
Right after I caught my 3rd ball of the day he proclaimed that I would not get another ball and then he proceeded to stand almost right in the middle of the aisle blocking the staircase. The best part of it was that the last group of the Phillies were all right handed and there wasn't a ball hit out to RF. However I knew that there was going to be at least one more chance for a baseball.
Phillies coach Gregg Legg (great name) was another person that was patrolling right field during BP. There was a group of people that kept yelling at him for a ball. Even I jumped into yelling, "Hey Legg let's see that Arm!!" Ok so that really wasn't as funny as I thought. Anyway, a ball was hit towards Legg and I was 99% sure that he would throw it up to the group of people just to my left. The only problem, MR. SOFTBALL, was right in the way of the open row to get to it. No problem though, I saw the group of people and figured that most likely it was going to bounce off of their hands and fall to the concourse below. So I went around MR. Softball and down the stairs as if I was going to the bathroom. Just as I got down the stairs the ball fell from above and right into my glove.(ball #4) OH was Mr. Softball mad, if he was only as smart as a Ballhawk!!
Shortly after that Batting practice was I headed off to the concessions area for the ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET!!
It is simply a great deal, especially when you get a promotion code that reduces the tickets from $40 plus ticketmaster fees all the way down to $25.25 which includes the TM fees. On the menu in the AYCEP was Dodger Dogs, Peanuts, Popcorn, Nachos, Soda and Water. It may not seem like a lot but it is still well worth the price.
So now I have had my first and even a second fill of food and I am ready for the game. As the Dodgers come out to take the field in the first inning I head down towards the same spot that I was during batting practice. Every half inning the Dodger outfielders throw up the balls after they are done warming up. Andre Either in RF and Matt Kemp in CF will switch off during the game taking turns tossing the ball up. Andre Eithier was first and there I was standing right in the aisle with my glove in the air. Eithier looked right at me and launched the ball in my direction. As it got closer I realized that it was going to be a little bit high. I ended up having to jump for, yes I actually got off the ground, and made the catch.(ball #5)
And now onto the game, in the first inning the Phillies Ryan Howard homered to left field and the Gregg Dobbs homered to right. In fact the Dobbs home run went to the gap between the wall and the seats. If we had not moved up to the big aisle and stayed in the front row where we were the entire time during BP most likely I would have retrieved Dobbs' home run.
The games goes into the 3rd inning and up comes Manny. I head down underneath the Pavilion seats to a place where I think Manny could hit an opposite field HR. The picture here shows the view of the gap between the seats and the wall. It also shows where I was and were Manny's home run hit.
As the ball went up I thought I might be in pretty good shape. As you see on the replay and in the other picture as the ball comes down my head pops up as I climb over the railing to go after the ball. If the ball stays in the gap between the stairs and the wall it's mine, I am positive of that as I was the first person there. Way back in 1987 at my first Dodger game I was in the Left Field pavilion and picked up a Mike Schmidt HR that someone misplayed. It fell in the gap right in front of me.
Anyway back to Manny's home run, as I hop the railing I see the ball bounce off the railing going up the stairs, hit the concrete walkway and go right back out onto the field. As I go up the next staircase to try and get it as they toss it into the stands I see it go towards the staircase it hit off of. A lady about to go up the stairs carrying 3 or 4 beers got a great surprise in her tray as the ball landed right in it.
Yes it was a little frustrating knowing that I was so close to my 100th career game home run and a little ironic that in a past post I mention how it would be cool for that HR to be hit by Manny.
At least I know that I am still pretty good at figuring out where some of these guys can hit home runs. There really is a little more than luck when it comes to getting baseballs!
The game was pretty exciting, the Phillies were up 6-1 at one point and the Dodgers chipped away capping it off with a Nomar Garciaparra home run in the 9th. After the game we went out to see if we could get some Phillies autographs. We saw a few of the players come out however none of them were really in the mood to sign seeing as how they blew 2 games in 2 nights in the 9th inning. The one person that did stop to talk and sign was Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas. Here is a picture that I had taken of myself with Mr. Kalas. The really cool thing, he is from Chicago too!
It was definitely a great night at Dodgers Stadium and good to finally have a night where I felt like I was back in form. I am pretty sure that game home run #100 is going to happen soon!
Tonights Totals:
5 Balls
4 Nachos
7 Cokes
2 Bags of Popcorn
1 Bottle of Water
1 Harry Kalas photo & autograph
Remeber you can email me at mlballhawk@gmail.com
08/07/08 - Lake Elsinore Storm vs. High Desert Mavericks
I went to Lake Elsinore for the game on Thursday night. It was more of a last minute thing to do but it was actually entertaining. It all started with the bathroom sign, ya gotta love the guy trying to hold it! Yes, the womens sign is about the same. Ok so maybe not a great way to start off a new posting but it was funny to me!
Another great night out at the BIG "A" for me!
Since the Angels clinched the division on Wed. tickets for the rest of the year are almost less than Minor League prices. $3 for almost every seat in the upper deck and $8 for most of the seats in the lower deck. I chose to simple go out and pay $3 to get in but I was only going to stay for BP (Batting practice).
The gates opened at 5:00 and I went to my usual spot in the right field corner. In the first 10 minutes of BP every choice I made was a bad one. Someone had beaten me to my regular spot. Instead of just staying in the spot to his right I moved around. Every time I changed my positioning a ball went to the spot I was just in. The kid that got my usual spot got 2 balls that I could have easily snagged. Then it was my turn with a roller hit down the line I leaned over the wall and stretched out to snag ball #1 hit by Kendry Morales.
Shortly after that ball Morales hit another ball that slowly rolled towards the wall. It sat about half a foot from the wall and easily within reach if I leaned over the wall. I went over to the spot where the ball was and leaned over and scooped up my 2nd ball of the day. Shortly after I got it the Security guard comes over to me and says "You can't lean over that far."
I responded to him with "Look, I have been coming here for 20 years and I know the rules." He then proceeded to tell me that some things have changed. I had about a million things that I could have said but you don't want to piss off a minimum wage security guard! Anyway, I have to admit he was cool since he gave away quite a few balls to fans both young and old. I know that he could lose his job for that but I won't tell anyone that he did it.
Ball #3 came off the bat of Ichiro as he hit in the first group for the Mariners. Ichiro hit a nice fly ball into the corner near the foul pole that hit on the warning track and bounced into the seats where it hit a chair and rolled away from the guy chasing it and right to me.
About 3 swings after ball #3 was snagged Ichiro hit another fly ball down the right field line. For those of you that don't know Angels stadium during BP in the right field corner you are looking directly into the sun. As this ball went up not only did I have to deal with the Sun but it was headed right at the foul pole. As it started to come down I lost it behind the pole and then in the sun. I stuck out my glove but the ball sailed past it, hit a seat and flew back onto the field.
Ball #4 was my second of the night hit by Ichiro and it came in his final round of BP. Ichiro launched another fly ball towards the foul pole in right. I was back a couple of rows in the seats and as it got closer I knew that it was going to hit close to the wall. The guy that had snagged a couple of balls that I should have had was right next to me as the ball came down. We both reached for it and thankfully it ended up in my glove!
My 5th and final ball of the day came off the bat of Tug Hullett. Tug is the son of former Major Leaguer Tim Hullett who played for the White Sox and Orioles. In fact some of the baseballs I caught in my younger days were hit by his dad at Old Comiskey Park in Chicago. Anyway, the ball that Tug hit went well over my head and I was just about to give up on it when all of the sudden I see it flying right back at me. It had hit a seat back and rebounded right at my head. I stuck up my glove and made the grab!
So for $3 and just staying for BP I did pretty well. I ended up with 5 baseballs of which 3 are almost brand new and good for autographs!
On a side note on Wednesday I went down to the stadium to get autographs. I hung out by the Angels parking lot and the only guy that stopped to sign was Chone Figgins.
- 3 consecutive games with 4 or more baseballs
Another Close Call for #100 - 8/28/08 Angels vs. Rangers - Angels Stadium - Anaheim, CA
I responded to him with "Look, I have been coming here for 20 years and I know the rules." He then proceeded to tell me that some things have changed. I had about a million things that I could have said but you don't want to piss off a minimum wage security guard! Anyway, I have to admit he was cool since he gave away quite a few balls to fans both young and old. I know that he could lose his job for that but I won't tell anyone that he did it.
- 3 consecutive games with 4 or more baseballs
Another Close Call for #100 - 8/28/08 Angels vs. Rangers - Angels Stadium - Anaheim, CA
Here we go with another near miss for me on Game HR #100 of my illustrious Ballhawking career. This is going to be a long post but it has a few cool stories.
Shortly after I found out that Hamilton was in I walked around to the Angels parking lot. I had a Home Run ball from a minor league game that was hit by Howie Kendrick. It would havfe been nice to get it signed but her drove up, waved and did not sign for anyone. That was the case for most of the Angels on Thursday except for one!
The fan said something to Hunter about how he was going to have a great game and go 4 for 4. The guy then got a little crazy saying he would hit for the cycle nad some other stuff. Tori came back and said to us, "I tell ya what, if I go 4 for 4 I will buy you guys a beer!" After Hunter left we all just laughed it off thinking that it was unlikely. We could not have been more wrong! Hunter ended up 3 for 3, the only thing that held us back from our beers was the fact that he walked in his first at bat. The worst part is that Vladdy mad the final Angels out of the game killing the chance of Tori going 4 for 4. If Tori had gone 4 for 4 you can be that we all would have shown up by the Angels parking lot the next day.
So after all of that I headed back around to the front of the stadium. Once I was up there I noticed a guy with a young kid who looked very familiar. I could not figure out if I knew him from Angels games in the past or if maybe it was someone I had met while working for the Rangers in Port Charlotte, Florida in 2000. It turns out that the boy with him was his grand-nephew and that I knew him from going to Angels games back in the late 80's / early 90's. Back then he brought his son, Brandon, to the games to get autographs and occasionally chase baseballs. It is always cool to see some of the people that used to hang out at the BIG A back when getting autographs was really fun!
Just before it was time to get in line to go into the stadium I ran into a MLBlog readers PadreLeigh and TC who is better known as TracyCollinsBecky in the comment section.
I was first in line and the first into the stadium! I ran out to what used to be my favorite spot down the right field line. It's a spot where most of the balls that are hit down the line funnel to so there is a good chance to get more than one ball. As I got down there a ball was headed towards the wall rolling very slow. It stopped right at the wall and I leaned over and picked it up. I am one of the few that can actually lean over the wall without falling onto the field. The ball itself was basically brand new with a few grass stains.
My response was "There is NO WAY I am giving a ball back, I didn't do anything wrong!" Shields was still telling me I had to give it back as well. The security guard kept saying that he was going to call security to take me out. I just laughed at him and said go ahead, and when you talk to them tell the head guy I said HI! I am pretty sure that he knows who I am.
Shortly after that Shields said, "I'm just kidding man, you don't have to give it back." I told him I obviously knew that and he knows I am there way to much to think otherwise. The security guy laughed and walked back to his crappy minimum wage paying job. Give a guy a radio and a shirt that says SECURITY and he thinks that he can be funny when he is actually being an idiot! I am guessing that had I been some stupid kid the security guy would have taken the ball and thrown it back in.
That was my first ball of the day, about 2 minutes after that a ball was hit into the seats down the right field line. There was no one around and I ran about 3 sections over to chase it. It was hit about 10 rows up but I knew that it would roll down to me and of course it did. Ball #2, another ball that was almost a pearl.
As batting practice went on several balls were hit into the center field area with no seats. The usher from the left field family section gets those and gives them away. Thankfully my friend JOE was the usher working that section and I talked him out of one of the balls that Josh Hamilton hit out there(ball#3) Hamilton put on an exhibition of hitting when he was in the cage. One his massive blast was a 450 ft shot that landed in the first row of the second section of seats in right field! These seats are about 27 rows up from the outfield wall. It was the longest ball I had ever seen hit to right field! Hamilton also hit several balls to the center field back drop and rock pile that stayed and got hung up on the Rocks. After BP I went around and asked one of the TV guys for one of the balls and he glady went over , picked on up and handed it to me! (ball #4)
Ok so onto the game now, I was sitting in the right field corner where there was a decent chance that if a home run was hit I would have a shot at it. In the 3rd inning of the game Mark Teixeira came up and hit a blast right towards the section next to me. As I watched the ball I tried to get into position for whatever direction it might bounce. Unfortunately there was no bounce at all. I still tried to make my way around the seats to the little side aisle along the fence to get down to it but by that time it was too late. A guy that was sitting down front got up to it and it rolled down a row right to him. DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!
Overall it turned out to be a decent day with me getting 4 baseballs that are good enough to get autographs on at future games. I saw old friends and met knew ones and just had a good time!
4 BALLS - 1 Autograph
8/13/08 - Phillies vs. Dodgers @ Dodger Stadium - A Great Night!
It looked as if I was not going to make any game at all on Wednesday night. Both the Angels and Dodgers were in town. At the last minute the decision was made to go to the Dodgers game and to sit in the ALL YOU CAN EAT PAVILION in Right Field.
We pulled into the parking lot at 5:30 which was alread 20 minutes after the gates opened. We walked into Autograph Alley (centerfield) as we got up to the stadium because the gates for RF do not open until 5:40. Jimmy Campanis was signing autographs and you can also walk out onto the warning track in Center Field during BP.
5:40 hit and we headed off to the AYCEP and up to the seats. I was standing on the aisle right off of Section 308. After having a few balls sail over my head hit by Chase Utley and another Phillie, possibly Greg Dobbs, Ryan Howard stepped in the cage. Howard then hits a towering drive right towards me. I step back a row and made the catch.(ball #1)
I have to admit I was nervous about this because I am back to using my $12 Wal-Mart special glove. The Wilson A200, yes A200, not A2000! My glove is the cheap plastic version of that but ya know what, IT WORKS!!
Shortly after that Geoff Jenkins was shagging out in right field and tossed a ball up into the stands. It bounced off of about 5 sets of hands and hit the first row where I was waiting for it and picked it up! (ball #2)
Shortly after I grab this one some out of shape overweight wannabe softball player comes over and stands right next to me telling me that I have gotten enough and that I should give the balls to kids etc. Ok so I am not in the greatest shape and I too am/was a wannabe softball player but at least I bring a glove to the game so I can catch a ball!
Chase Utley stepped in for his last couple of swings and hits one right at me and Mr. Softball. He is just to my left as we stand in the stairwell. Thankfully the ball was hit just to my right and far enough to where I could reach for it and he was not going to have a chance at it unless he grabbed my arm or something crazy like that. As the ball came down he stuck his hand in front of my face and across my body. I stuck out my Wal-Mart special and the ball went past his bare hand and right into my glove. (Ball #3) If Mr. Softball had a glove with him he might have actually been able to make the catch.
#1 rule of Ballhawking: ALWAYS BRING A GLOVE!!
Right after I caught my 3rd ball of the day he proclaimed that I would not get another ball and then he proceeded to stand almost right in the middle of the aisle blocking the staircase. The best part of it was that the last group of the Phillies were all right handed and there wasn't a ball hit out to RF. However I knew that there was going to be at least one more chance for a baseball.
Phillies coach Gregg Legg (great name) was another person that was patrolling right field during BP. There was a group of people that kept yelling at him for a ball. Even I jumped into yelling, "Hey Legg let's see that Arm!!" Ok so that really wasn't as funny as I thought. Anyway, a ball was hit towards Legg and I was 99% sure that he would throw it up to the group of people just to my left. The only problem, MR. SOFTBALL, was right in the way of the open row to get to it. No problem though, I saw the group of people and figured that most likely it was going to bounce off of their hands and fall to the concourse below. So I went around MR. Softball and down the stairs as if I was going to the bathroom. Just as I got down the stairs the ball fell from above and right into my glove.(ball #4) OH was Mr. Softball mad, if he was only as smart as a Ballhawk!!
Shortly after that Batting practice was I headed off to the concessions area for the ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET!!
It is simply a great deal, especially when you get a promotion code that reduces the tickets from $40 plus ticketmaster fees all the way down to $25.25 which includes the TM fees. On the menu in the AYCEP was Dodger Dogs, Peanuts, Popcorn, Nachos, Soda and Water. It may not seem like a lot but it is still well worth the price.
So now I have had my first and even a second fill of food and I am ready for the game. As the Dodgers come out to take the field in the first inning I head down towards the same spot that I was during batting practice. Every half inning the Dodger outfielders throw up the balls after they are done warming up. Andre Either in RF and Matt Kemp in CF will switch off during the game taking turns tossing the ball up. Andre Eithier was first and there I was standing right in the aisle with my glove in the air. Eithier looked right at me and launched the ball in my direction. As it got closer I realized that it was going to be a little bit high. I ended up having to jump for, yes I actually got off the ground, and made the catch.(ball #5)
And now onto the game, in the first inning the Phillies Ryan Howard homered to left field and the Gregg Dobbs homered to right. In fact the Dobbs home run went to the gap between the wall and the seats. If we had not moved up to the big aisle and stayed in the front row where we were the entire time during BP most likely I would have retrieved Dobbs' home run.
The games goes into the 3rd inning and up comes Manny. I head down underneath the Pavilion seats to a place where I think Manny could hit an opposite field HR. The picture here shows the view of the gap between the seats and the wall. It also shows where I was and were Manny's home run hit.
As the ball went up I thought I might be in pretty good shape. As you see on the replay and in the other picture as the ball comes down my head pops up as I climb over the railing to go after the ball. If the ball stays in the gap between the stairs and the wall it's mine, I am positive of that as I was the first person there. Way back in 1987 at my first Dodger game I was in the Left Field pavilion and picked up a Mike Schmidt HR that someone misplayed. It fell in the gap right in front of me.
Anyway back to Manny's home run, as I hop the railing I see the ball bounce off the railing going up the stairs, hit the concrete walkway and go right back out onto the field. As I go up the next staircase to try and get it as they toss it into the stands I see it go towards the staircase it hit off of. A lady about to go up the stairs carrying 3 or 4 beers got a great surprise in her tray as the ball landed right in it.
Yes it was a little frustrating knowing that I was so close to my 100th career game home run and a little ironic that in a past post I mention how it would be cool for that HR to be hit by Manny.
At least I know that I am still pretty good at figuring out where some of these guys can hit home runs. There really is a little more than luck when it comes to getting baseballs!
The game was pretty exciting, the Phillies were up 6-1 at one point and the Dodgers chipped away capping it off with a Nomar Garciaparra home run in the 9th. After the game we went out to see if we could get some Phillies autographs. We saw a few of the players come out however none of them were really in the mood to sign seeing as how they blew 2 games in 2 nights in the 9th inning. The one person that did stop to talk and sign was Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas. Here is a picture that I had taken of myself with Mr. Kalas. The really cool thing, he is from Chicago too!
It was definitely a great night at Dodgers Stadium and good to finally have a night where I felt like I was back in form. I am pretty sure that game home run #100 is going to happen soon!
Tonights Totals:
5 Balls
4 Nachos
7 Cokes
2 Bags of Popcorn
1 Bottle of Water
1 Harry Kalas photo & autograph
Remeber you can email me at mlballhawk@gmail.com
08/07/08 - Lake Elsinore Storm vs. High Desert Mavericks
I went to Lake Elsinore for the game on Thursday night. It was more of a last minute thing to do but it was actually entertaining. It all started with the bathroom sign, ya gotta love the guy trying to hold it! Yes, the womens sign is about the same. Ok so maybe not a great way to start off a new posting but it was funny to me!
With minor league games batting practice is usually over by the time you get in the park and at Lake Elsinore you can't even walk around the outfiled fence to find baseballs because the entire stadium in enclosed. So you have to rely on getting baseballs either by players or coaches throwing them to you or by catching one during the game.
Thursday nights game was USED CAR NIGHT and thirsty thursday. So it was a decent crowd and I was really more into just watching the game and hopefully winning one of those clunkers.
Just before the game started former Yankee Shane Spencer was standing in front of the dugout and one of the people I was with saw that he had a ball. We all yelled at him and he tossed it up and I caught it. So I am claiming this one for my totals. I know it may be lame but if other "Ballhawks" can yell at players and beg for balls most of the time then I can count this one!!
Anyway, that was it for balls but not for entertainment. The Storm have a player names Brian Joynt and this is what the scoreboard looked like when they put him up during his at bats. Was it unintentional??? I am guessing it was but it sure is funny!!
Even the PA announcer got into the entertainment as he always does by just spitting out random names for the batters of the opposing team. He even used "HOMIE THE CLOWN" for one of the Mavericks batters. Not exactly the most professional of things to do but it's minor league baseball and it is all about entertainment!!
July 11, 2008
Gary Carter and the O.C. Flyers
I ended up at Cal State Fullerton's Goodwin Field on Friday night to check out the Orange County Flyers and their new Hall Of Fame manager Gary Carter.
I actually worked for the Flyers in their first 2 years as the Director of Concessions (05) and Clubhouse Manager(06). It was great to see our old GM Ed Hart at the game. Another familiar face wandering the ballpark in the late innings was Brian Giles. No not the current Padres Brian Giles but the original Padres Brian Giles.
I really didn't go to the game expecting to get a ball. We simply went to get a couple of things signed by Gary Carter. As I made my way over to 1st base side to get Carter after the game I stood at the top of the stands. The last batter of the game hit a foul ball off of the big net that protects the softball field seats. It fell down and off a seat and bounced right to me where I bare handed it.
2 pitches later the Flyers won the game and clinched the first half championship of the Southern Division of the GBL.
Congratulations to the OC Flyers, Gary Carter, Darrell Evans and Dan DiPace!
Game Total = 1 ball
After reading a few other MLBlogs of the other Ballhawks & Ballsnaggers out here. I got the itch to go to a game. A friend of mine had a couple of pavilion tickets for Dodgers stadium on Thursday night that he was not going to use. So I headed out with another friend and off to the game we went.
This was my first Official Ballhawk outing of the season. I had been to a handful of games but went to all of them without a glove and really did not even think about getting a baseball. Ok maybe I thought about it but with the seats I had for those games there was NO SHOT of getting a ball.
Anyway, we got to the stadium and spent the first 20 minutes of BP standing in center field on the warning track. The Dodgers open up their new Autograph Alley when the gates open and fans can stand on the warning track in center field for BP. Only a couple of balls even made it close and it is so cramped down there getting one is next to impossible.
So we moved up to the left field pavilion for the Marlins.
Jorge Cantu steps in an drives one deep to left field into section 303. Watching the ball go up I start to move to my right after the ball. As it comes into the seats I stick out my glove and it goes right off the tip of it. Thankfully it hit the row behind me and rolled right back to me.
Ok so I am a bit rusty, after all it has been almost a year since I caught #2807 and actually went after baseballs.
I guess tonight I realized that being able to get out and chase baseballs is a good way to get away from the stress of everyday life. It was good to just get out and relax after a pretty rough 2 weeks.
I am not sure when I will get out again to "Hawk" but as soon as I do I will be sure to share it!
Side note to the game Russell Martin's home run in last nights game was hit one section over from where we were sitting and about halfway up. We were in the front row of the next section over! We did however get a lot of TV time on balls hit to the left center field gap!
Tonight = 1 ball
