A-Rod on No. 500
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- August
- 4
I have a ton of work to do, but here are a few details on a big day for the Yankees:
Cynthia Rodriguez was not in her seat for No. 500 but saw her husband round the bases.
A Rutgers student, who asked not be identified, caught the ball. He was hustled away by security. When he spoke to the Yankees, he said he had not decided what he wanted to do with the ball.
Here’s hoping the guy gives the ball up for a few tickets and a signed bat or whatever. The whole process of people fighting over balls and selling them is unseemly.
Alex said he wanted the ball back and hoped something could be worked out.
Alex spoke to George, Hank and Hal Steinbrenner via conference call after the game and also spoke with Bud Selig.
His batting helmet has been donated to the Hall of Fame.
Here is the audio from Alex’s postgame press conference:
Here is Joe Torre’s postgame:
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on Saturday, August 4th, 2007 at 6:41 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
You know if he doesn’t give the ball back he is an ahole.
congrats to a-rod. hope the rutgers guy gives up the ball.
to be completely honest, i’m far more interested in reading what hughes and the coaching staff had to say about his outing, whether he just ran out of gas in the heat, etc. i know i’m in the minority on that one, though.
maybe the Rutgers student should hire Steve Boras to represent him.
What would steve do???
At least pay his college tuition. Is that asking too much? I don’t think so.
Honestly, if you can get a picture with the ball, some tix, and some other piece signed by ARod why not give the ball to ARod?
Thanks Pete good update report. Cynthia reminds me of the Golden Globe award show when they called Prince to receive his award he wasn’t in his seat. He had been stuck in traffic and arrived late. Lol! It’s the news Fox and other stations have been talking about during other games. Congrats to Arod.
What was the talk about Hughes? I’m sure he was rusty getting back in the start up. A different crowd when you know you’re pitching in front of a Yankee crowd. Did they really boo the guy? I read they did but I can’t see why when it was his first day back. As long as the Yankees are hitting and scoring, I think we can save all our pitchers on their bad days.
See, here’s the thing. I love the game of baseball. I always have. I also recognize that Alex Rodriguez makes 25 million dollars a year, to play the game I love.
So I’d ask him for one simple thing. Make the down payment on my first house. That’s it. I don’t even want a check from him.
Sounds weird, but I would think 20 percent on a house is chump change to Mr. Rodriguez.
Then again, A-Rod’s ball probably isn’t worth that much; Bonds’ 715 only went for 225K.
and yeah, flame on for wanting the money, but it’s for a good cause.
BryanK –
Alex Rodriguez makes 25 million dollars a year. In the simple business model of supply and demand, it’s the one time when he has the demand and you have the supply. Yeah, sure, pictures and tickets are nice. But they can’t buy you a future? Do you think you’ll be a second thought to A-Rod once you cough up that ball for something that’s cash value is maybe 500 dollars? We’re talking about the man who will probably hit 800 home runs.
My own views on wanting the money is simple; I want to build a future for myself. Does that make me a bad person because I want to ask a multi-millionaire for a donation because I have something he wants?
I have one of Nolan Ryan’s balls he pitched to the late Kirby Puckett in one of his last games. It fouled behind the plate. My grandpop took me the next home game early and I met Mr. Ryan who I thought maybe he would want to keep it. I was nine years old but he signed it and gave it back. I kept the ticket and we tried hard to get in touch with Puckett so he could sign it as well. It was hard since the Twins were on the road and this was a Ranger home game. Everybody got so busy afterwards and by that time Mr. Puckett had retired and was ill. I wish I had gotten his signature because I was a big fan of his as well.
What a day, was on the road so I heard the call because espn.radio was broadcasting his at-bat. My daughter said he’s not going to do it. It was funny because Sterling’s call was not of the “It is high, it is long” variety. It was weird, like he didn’t want to call it wrong. I’m glad it took so long, the fans, the team, and Alex himself were able to appreciate the moment even more.
Last I heard Yanks were up 6-2, then I found out they won 16-8. The only disappointing part was Phil’s day, but it was a good experience for him anyway. Krazy Kyle was not a disappointment, as we’ve learned to accept he’ll give up a run when he comes in.
Picked up a game on Cleveland, hopefully some more dividends will pay off later in the day.
If I were the Rutgers student, I’d tell him, “I don’t want to talk about the 500 ball during the season. We’ll wait until the off-season to negotiate.”
Also, it was nice to see Alex doing the interview in his pinstripes.
Congratulations, A-rod!
I hope the guy gives Arod the ball. He can probaly get a bunch of signed things plus meet Arod, that’s worth something too. It’s not like it’s the 800th ball, here’s hoping the guy does the classy thing.
Matty you’d be surprised how people will offer you money for a ball from a person that will be a legend someday. When I caught that ball, people were calling my grandfather’s office constantly wanting to buy my ball. It wasn’t just every day people, these were lawyers, corporate business owners and president of companies. We were sitting in a section that contained distinguished Texas businessmen. They were offering pretty big bucks for that ball. I’m not talking the minimum of 500 bucks either.
I think he should give him the ball if he wants it. The only reason why Mr. Ryan didn’t want my ball back was it was not one from his last pitch. My sister wouldn’t touch it because she claims she could see his chew and spit on the ball. That thing was very used which made it even sweeter
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALEX FOR YOUR 500th HR!!!!
I didn’t hear any booing. If there was, I’m sure it was more about the game situation then Hughes personally. Hughes will be fine, he should glimpses of greatness. Next time I bet he is much better.
Ironically Myers got the win by only pitching to two batters, giving up the game tying double to the first batter and striking out the second.
Official ball American League Rawlings by Bobby Brown Pres – cushioned cork center. Sweet
Pete – in the postgame interviews YES was showing, Alex seemed strangely sincere and real, for the first time that I have seen. He seemed relax and so happy, like what he was saying was from the heart and not calculated at all. I’d be curious to see if you got that sense too, or if that is just my wishful thinking that he is finally happy to be a Yankee and won’t leave.
They showed his interview on Fox. He had good things to say about the fans and he did sound sincere.
Trully, there is nothing wrong with a fan getting as much $ as possible. He caught the ball and it belongs to him. All players strive to get paid their “market value” especially
Boras clients like Arod. What is wrong with a fan behaving likewise and selling the ball to the highest bidder? Arod has plenty of cash to make a competitive offer. How dare you suggest that a Rutgers student should “do the classy thing” and hand the ball to a multimillionaire on the millionaire’s terms. There is nothing “classy” about that at all. Let the “free market” play out and let the kid get exactly what the highest bidder is willing to pay. Think of how much more $50,000 would be worth to the kid than to Arod. Arod should do the “classy thing” and offer $50K right now.
Let me put this in terms that “normal people” could understand, outside of the realm of baseball.
Let’s say there’s a great, wonderful picture of your only child doing something amazing. There’s only one picture; it’s a perfect picture and something you will cherish for a very, very long time.
You are financially comfortable; you don’t live paycheck to paycheck. Heck, you had time to drop some money in a strip club back in may.
The photographer says that he will give you the picture and all rights to it for two days pay.
Two. Days. Pay.
Now, what’s “classy” and what’s “stupid”.
“What would steve do???”
change his name to scott and make a ton of money representing professional athletes.
Offer Alex the ball back only if he agrees to not opt out.
Ryan – what about either not opt out or sign an extension with no opt out provision? I like that better.
Why does this always have to be a Boras thing. Most all the sports agents with money clients are this way. Not just Boras. I hear all this Boras talk as if there are no other agents that aren’t money hungry. Whether it’s the right thing or not. Agents are high salaried lawyers. I can see Arod wanting this ball for history and maybe to pass down this for his kid.
If I thought Mr. Ryan or Mr. Puckett wanted the ball I had back I would give it to them out of respect that he worked hard to get where he is.
Arod is rich and he deserves what he has. Would you question Jeter if he wanted the ball back if this was a special game for him?
If Jeter wanted the ball back, I’d want a down payment for the house and for him to be my wingman for a week.
If I had the talent Arod, Jeter or any of those guys have and I would not be complaining about the money my agent was getting me if I deserved it. If you were a talented pro baseball player with HOF numbers and stats would you play for minimum in this day and time? These guys been working hard to be good players since they were kids. They can’t help it if they find agents who make deals to get them the max. If the owners of the teams didn’t want them to play there they wouldn’t pay that kind of money. Obviously Hix and George have that kind of money. What’s wrong with that? Arod’s salary isn’t coming out of my pocket. He’s doing his part on the field.
St Louis is batting Piniero 8th and Kennedy 9th tonight. Something you hear about but never see implemented.
“Hello, ladies. My name is Matty. By the way, have you met my friend Derek? He works in New York.”
Yeah right Matty. Jeter could tell you he’d give you a hand shake and you probably would take it. This is Arod so it’s fair to give that guy a hard time because his agent is Boras..okay
how much is something like a 500th home run ball worth?
Don’t be a sucker, Rutgers Kid. Get what you can for the ball! And here’s to Arod, may he get to 800 or more.
And go Yankees! Let’s still aim for the Red Sox. If the Red Sox lose tonight, the Yankees are 6 out with 6 games remaing against the Red Sox. The Yankees would then “control their own destiny” for first time in quite a while.
If Shelley Duncan wanted the ball back, I’d give it to him for stuff. Probably tickets and a guaranteed great seat for the opening of the new stadium.
Anyone who makes less than a million/year on the Yankees gets the ball back for “stuff”.
TJ –
A-Rod or DJ has nothing to do with it. Hell, DJ probably has a better angle on getting me a Shelby if I asked for it.
These are people who make over 18/million dollars a year. They can AFFORD to give up a day or two of pay to help create a future for me.
Think about how great that is. “The house that Derek built”.
Lil’ Jimmy Norden –
probably about 2 gallons of monster rain.
Wait.
As I said, Bonds’ 715 ball went for 225K. So I’m thinking that A-Rod’s 500 ball on the open market is probably 50-100K, but it would depend if the ball goes on the market now or after the season, and if A-Rod stays with the Yankees for the long run.
LOL! I’ve gotta laugh. Anyway see you guys tomorrow. I’m sure if Alex doesn’t get the 500 ball back, will be waiting for him to chase Bond’s record and break it after he breaks Hammerin Hank’s record. If Alex does that in Yankee uniform just think how much that ball will be worth. You have the home run record as a Yankee? Wow now that’s a ball I would negotiating with his agent over. hahaha! I just hope everything works out where he does it as a Yankee with an we have at least five more championships. In my lifetime I want Jeter to have a Yankee ring on all ten fingers. hahaha
I like the one, give it back if he won’t opt out. LOL
The ball is worth what it’s worth. Arod surely can afford and the Kid surely could use the cash. The Kid owns the ball and to give it to Arod would be charity. Arod needs no charity.
Arod, just give the Kid $50K for the ball. Maybe it will help him through school. Reap the PR benefits of doing the “classy thing.”
Awww Matty you would be surprised how people with a lot of money are the cheapest people out there. They tend to be very conservative. Think they ride actually pay for all those nice cars? These guys get to eat free. A lot of business owners like the fact they show up or drive their cars from their dealerships to draw business. They don’t really like to spend a lot of money. haha! unless it’s something they can invest in as a good tax write off. The richer you are the more bills you have. They also make the shrinks and plastic surgeons millionaires along with their agents. LOL
Congrats A-Rod!!!
Who knows what this kid may do. If he decides to keep it I’m sure Alex won’t cry over it. He’s on a record chase now. So if Bonds retires soon. Alex won’t be that far off from catching him if he remains healthy. This ball won’t mean as much as the one he hits to beat Bonds record.
That guy who caught the ball will now enjoy his five minutes of fame. LOL!
Pete, a few tickets and a bat? Gimme a break, are you nuts?
If I was him that ball is going to the highest bidder, no reason why Arod can’t be the one. The guys a freakin COLLEGE KID.
Thats an extremely naive thing to say Pete, you must be too busy to think before you type.
mel-
Awww, Mel, ya got a little girl. Lucky you. Tell us more, one day. We love kids. I guess that goes with being baseball fanatics, that is never letting go part of our youth.
The kid who caught the ball should tell A-Rod he’ll decide what he’s going to do with the ball when A-Rod commits to coming back as a Yankee in 2008 and beyond. It would be stupid of him to give A-Rod the ball back only to have A-Rod dash off to the Red Sox or Angels next year.
T.J.-
on boras, we’re just pulling his leg. We’re jokesters. Though he could project more warmth when he does media, but that’s a different point.
We love Marvin Miller, Curt Flood, etc.
It would be great for Alex to pay the kid’s tuition. Plus a few game tickets and a signed bat and ball? That would do it for me. Well, I’d want a down payment on a house but I don’t want to get greedy…
If I caught the ball, I’d ask Alex to extend his current Yankee contract. Really!
Down payments on houses? Payments for college tuitions?
Ack.
In Pete’s previous blog entry, Boras is quoted as saying, ”...he believes Alex Rodriguez is worth $32-35 million a year. ‘Signing Alex is good business,’ he said.”
It’s already started. I predicted a couple of weeks ago that ARod’s asking price would start out at Boras’ oft-repeated $30M/year, then would stealthily climb a few M/year, and by November or December would be up around $40M/year.
As for “good business”, yeah, I can see for which two players in this game it’s “good business”. Sheesh.
I hope that Rutgers kid gets something like, say, the rest of his college tuition paid by ARod. If ARod hardballs him, I’d dissect the baseball into a pile of leather, string, and cork, put it a FedEx envelope, and send it to ARod via Boras.
Well, we just got back to New Hampshire from the Stadium. All week long I was torn on routing for Arod to hit 500 or wait ‘til Saturday. I am glad he waited. It was an awesome time.
Good job as always Pete.
How do we know this kid’s family isn’t loaded?
“They can AFFORD to give up a day or two of pay to help create a future for me.”
down payment on a house? college tuition? what, just because someone is lucky to be standing in the right spot??
Too many people here looking for a free ride, just cause the other party has deep pockets. So the next time you’re in a fender bender with someone in a Lexus or a mercedes, do you take them to the cleaners?
And whoever suggested Pete was naive needs to wake up. It’s called decency. Guy has one of the biggest career moments and somebody should hit him up for the ball just because he’s got money?
don’t worry about the rutgers kid. either A-Rod will pay his price (and I’m sure he’ll make a fair offer) or he’ll look for his free ride on e-bay. I hope his 600th, 700th and so on land in the bullpen.
Pam M in CT –
“down payment on a house? college tuition? what, just because someone is lucky to be standing in the right spot??”
That’s how it’s worked for the past 10-15 years. Somebody got THREE MILLION DOLLARS for McGwire’s 70th ball. I don’t think asking 50,000 dollars from someone who can afford it is asking too much at all.
THAT’S WHY THEY MARKED THE BALLS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I think the Fender Bender comparison with the Lexus is wrong and misguided. In that case, it was misfortune. This is the exact opposite, it’s GOOD fortune.
You have a product that someone wants, be it A-Rod or a collector with deep pockets. You can offer it at a discount OR put it on the open market and see what happens. That’s capitalism. Get over yourself.
Jim Clark, what a great point.
It just made me laugh at the futility of this argument
If I were the kid I’d ask for season tickets for the rest of my life
matty-
Thirty years ago, people handed over the ball in exchange for a signed bat, photo with the player, whatever. They weren’t naive or suckers and they weren’t looking to make money off of it (even though, we all knew players were making pretty good money back then). They just figured the ball meant a lot to the player and if they were offering other items in exchange, why not? The collector’s market changed that. Yeah, I know what capitalism is and I have a very healthy respect for it. I just think there’s a fine line between capitalism and excessive greed.
$3 million for McGwire’s 70th? Damn. Then I guess your price (down payment or tuition?) could be met.
Pam –
30 years ago, ballplayers weren’t making the exorbitant salaries they are making today. It’s not like ballplayer’s salaries adjusted with the cost of living like everyone else. Free agency, television contracts, and more radically changed the compensation system in baseball.
Yes, Ballplayers were making a lot of money “back in the day”, but let’s be serious here. Alex Rodriguez is making 25 million dollars a year. Less 55 percent after Boras and the Government takes their cut, he makes a little over 11 million dollars a year. Not including endorsements.
That means A-Rod makes $30K a day, conservatively. So I don’t feel bad asking someone who makes more money in a week than most people will see in a year doesn’t make me think it’s too much to ask him for $50K-$75K to put a down payment on a house.
That’s just me. Things have changed. If someone wasn’t making millions per year, like Shelley Duncan, I wouldn’t ask him for money. But A-Rod, who is the highest paid player in the game… that changes things.
As I said, “class” is one thing, but a blown opportunity is another.
A-rod has endorsement deals with other places, too, does he not?
So, really, he’s making more than 25-30 mil.
Hey Peter it’s o.k. for A-Rod to ask for top dollar/ even > the $27M he’s making per year (highest annual actual salary in M.L.B. history to go with his highest contract in M.L.B. history) through 2010, but it’s not o.k. for a college kid to sell a ball for perhaps his college tuition? Go sc rew. I mean you’re telling us the kid should give up who knows how many thousands of dollars? You’re nuts.
Oh b.t.w. N.Y. taxpayers paid for the stadium A-Rod makes his $27M per year half the time, and the fans are the reason why he makes all that money and is anyone, so if one of these fans (I’ll assume this kid isn’t a N.Y. taxpayer let alone a N.Y. resident) can get his, more power to him/ her. Player’s want as much as they can get, fans should be able to do the same. Only players should get paid outrageous sums? How ‘bout N.Y.P.D. cops who currently start at $25G, not even what McDonald’s managers make. You think I’m giving Jeter his 3,000th hit ball if it’s a ground-rule double or homerun, nah-ah. I would, however, donate 10% of the minimum $1M I get for that ball (first Yankee to ever collect 3,000 hits) to Jeter’s Turn 2 Jeter, but that’s just me & I think that’s very fair. I’m making $450K after taxes on the remaining $900K, that’s my nest egg. Some rich person could always buy it from me or whoever I sell it to then give it to Jeter.
I love how you hope some Average Joe doesn’t try to make a dime off a player but it’s o.k. for A-Rod to make even more money than he’s making now cuz oh, $252M all together just isn’t enough for him and his avaricious pig agent who wants to directly hurt the Yankees by having A-Rod opt out thus Texas has $9M per year freed up to improve.
Well, if we’re talking about the ``classy’’ thing to do—-
You’d think the first thing A-Rod would say after the game would be: There are two season tickets for next year, front row Yankees dugout, waiting for the person who caught that ball. I’d sure like to have it back, but the tix are yours either way.
I’m not saying A-Rod owes anybody anything, but that goes equally for the kid.
If you want to get on fans for selling stuff, you should get on sports memorabilia companies who create artificially collectible stuff. They’re the real leeches off players’ accomplishments. Let’s sell a World Series base. I’d rather give a college kid $50K than make Steiner Sports richer.
Time:
It’s not that simple and you can’t compare ball players to cops. Players earn millions for their teams, where do you think that money goes, to charity? It goes to the Steinbrenner family and their partners. I’m all for the players getting whatever they can get.
As for Scott Boras, he has a job to do and he does it exceedingly well. How is he a bad guy? A person hires him and says “get me the largest contract possible.” Should Boras say, “no, you should ask for less. look at what teachers make.”
The memorabilia market is dying. That ball could fetch $20,000, but not life-changing money. The kid can do what he wants and should. I just find it scummy when somebody goes to a ballgame, happens to catch a ball and suddenly they become all greedy.
Keep it, sell it, give it back, whatever. Just don’t be a jerk about it like those people who fought over that Barry Bonds ball a few years back.
Matty
Pete just said it far better than I did: “I just find it scummy when somebody goes to a ballgame, happens to catch a ball and suddenly they become all greedy. Keep it, sell it, give it back, whatever. Just don’t be a jerk about it like those people who fought over that Barry Bonds ball a few years back.”
and the name is Pat, not Pam.
Pete-
So it’s “scummy” to hold out for fair market value on a ball, but it’s perfectly ok for A-Rod to extort the Yankees for more money on his record breaking contract. Honestly, that’s going beyond ridiculous and into the realm of offensive.
Baseball is a business we are told. There is no more loyalty by players to thier club or vise versa. The fans are the only ones who are supposed to have loyalty and do the “right thing”. Most of the fans will make a fraction of ARod’s yearly salary in thier entire lifetime yet they’re supposed to to give up an opportunity to make thier life better by selling a stupid baseball. Get what you can.
It’s just business.
There is nothing wrong with getting market value for the ball. If A-Rod wants it back he will make a fair offer. A couple tickets and a signed bat….hmmm….that would be nice but lets face it, the kid was in the right place at the right time and caught a great piece of Baseball memorabilia….fan’s are allowed to keep what flies into the stands and that ball is definitely worth more than a bat and some tickets. I was in Baltimore last Sunday holding onto the fantasy that A-Rod would hit it into the standing area beyond right field…when he didn’t hit it I selfishly hoped it would wait until this past Saturday at the stadium…..because I have Saturday season tickets and my seats are in left field about five rows from where he ended up hitting it. Unfortuneately, the wait at the GW bridge cost me over an hour and I was pulling into the parking lot when A-Rod hit it. I didn’t even get to see it but even worse I would have liked my 2 year old son to have seen it. Yes, I thought about what I would do if I was lucky enough to catch it. Initially I figured on a couple signed gamer bats, a signed jersey, some All Star Game seats and to meet A-Rod and Mattingly (my idol growing up). The Rutgers kid did the right thing by saying he hasn’t decided what to do with it. Wait and see what the market says and be sure that A-Rod has the first chance to offer you the market price…..and try to get a few seats to the All-star game as well! A-Rod deserves to have that ball but it wouldn’t come free. The ball may only be the 500th HR but you have to look at it this way: This is the next Home Run King and number 500 is the benchmark for the HOF…at least it used to be….I think that ball is pretty special, regardless how many he ends up hitting. Get what you can and make sure it is A-Rod who gets the first chance to get the ball…..he can afford it but don’t be greedy and hold the ball for ransom….fair market value is fair.
Sell the ball to the highest bidder…be it A-Rod, HOF, or whoever. You would be “incredibly” stupid to give it back. Get the most you can while you can. Ask A-Rod and he’ll tell you.
A rod makes way too much money to even be cheap about giving a fan what he deserve….every1 knows when u catch a ball either fair or foul it belong to the person that catches it…people out there are diehard fans n if not for the fans a rod wouldnt be as weathy as he is…so i dont think its too much to atleast give the guy something..i think it is actually kind rude that they try to give him tickets for it