It was 11 years ago today that I caught Sammy Sosa's 61st home run on Waveland Avenue outside of Wrigley Field. As I sit here today I can remember it as if it just happened.
The night before I was at a party about 8 blocks away from Wrigley Field. I had $8 in my pocket and really had no intentions of going to the game. I drove down Kenmore towards Waveland and saw legendary Ballhawk MOE MULLINS standing by his van. I talked to Moe and he asked if I was going to hang around. I told him that it was unlikely and he said that I should hang out.
In the first inning of the game Sosa hit a long fly ball down the left field line and onto Waveland Avenue. There was a trail of at least 100-150 people that ran after the ball. I can remember thinking to myself that the only chance i had at getting a Sosa HR was if it rolled right to my feet. (remember that)
A side story to all of this takes place on the Mississippi Belle II Riverboat Casino in Clinton, Iowa. Knowing that I was a huge baseball fan and that I had caught numerous baseballs at MLB games the staff there would always ask me what I thought a Sosa HR would be worth. My response, "I'll let you know when I catch one!" That was my response each and every time they would ask. (remember this too)
Onto the 5th inning of the game .......
Sosa steps up to bat, I am now leaning against Moe's van which was parked near the firehydrant on the corner of Waveland and Kenmore. I am watching a TV that Moe had set up inside. Sosa takes a big swing and immediately you heard the crowd roar. I turned to my right and looked up and saw the ball in flight. I headed between two cars hoping that I had a chance.
There were two guys coming up the street as I came between the cars. I saw the ball hit about 5 feet from the building, hit off of one of those guys shins and then, IT ROLLED RIGHT TO ME!! I had just become one of only 3 people (at that time) to have caught someones 61st HR in a season.
Immediately after I made the grab with my glove I cradled it like a football. A few of the regular Ballhawks and Ballhawk groupies circled me and got me into Moe's van. I can remember Jeff Idleson from the Hall of Fame coming to look at the ball and taking a few notes on it. I was also interviewed by a couple of reporters as well.
The funniest part of the whole scene was the long line of people that wanted to shake my hand, offer me free dinner at their restaurant or just wanted an autograph. That went on for almost 40 minutes.
At one point someone from WGN came over and wanted to take me into the ballpark to be interviewed on the telecast. When we got up to the press box Bill Murray was leaving and said to me, "Give it back to him (Sosa)". I then came across a guy that asked if I was the one that caught the ball. I told him yes and he asked if he could check it out. Feeling safe since I was in the press box I decided to let go of the ball. A few minutes later a guy came out of another room and the guy I gave the ball to said, "Hey Chris, check this out, this is the Sosa HR ball!" He tossed it to "Chris" and he checked it out.
It turns out that it was actor Chris O'Donnell. As he was walking out after singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame I asked him to sign my hat. I thanked him for the autograph and he walked away. Just as I was about to walk into the TV booth with Steve Stone and Chip Caray I heard Chris' voice, "Hey John, can you sign my hat!" Of course I signed it!
By the time the 9th inning rolled around I was standing by the fence of the Budweiser house just hoping that Sosa would not hit .......... SWING AND A LONG ONE . ...... so much for that .... #62 flew out of the park, into Moes hands and then he got mauled for the ball.
I had actually talked to a collector on the pay phone by the firehouse a little after getting #61 and he offered me $10,000 for the ball. Now there was another ball out there, what would I get for mine? When I got to the collectors office later that night I heard a voice mail from the guy that ended up with 62. They might be buying both balls and I knew I wasn't getting $10,000.
I could have given the ball back to Sosa but I had been kind of screwed over by a Cubs minor league team (that I worked for) the season before and decided giving it back was not an option. Not to mention that I was recently divorced and the extra cash would help out. So they offered me $7,500 and it would obviously help me out.
To make a looooong story short I got lucky that day, I was in the right place at the right time and had the baseball gods looking down on me.
Now let's go back to the part about the Mississippi Belle II Riverboat in Clinton, Iowa. About a week later my mom and I went to the boat. As we walked onto the boat I heard someone radio ahead saying, "He's here!" We walked into the 2nd deck doors and a few of the dealers that new me gave me a standing ovation!
I was a surreal moment, it was as if a celebrity walked onto the boat. Anyway, they all asked me, "So what was it worth?" I told them $7,500 and I got to share the story about my day with them!
The Sosa HR was and still is one of my greatest catches. Regardless of did he or did he not do steroids I don't really care. He hit 66 HR's that season to Big Macs 70. It was a great summer for baseball and I was glad to be a part of it!
There were other things that happened that day and much more that I could have added to the story but I cut it down a bit for the sake of my readers. The complete story is in my BOOK titled "TAKING HOME A PIECE OF THE GAME" -- Google it or look it up at AMAZON.COM - only $4.95 + shipping.
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