Charlie Sheen – The Ballhawk
On April 16, 1996 Charlie Sheen became a Ballhawk. In hopes of catching a home run ball he bought out the entire left field section at Anaheim Stadium (now Angels Stadium of Anaheim).
Sheen spent around $6500 to buy out the old End Zone seats at Anaheim Stadium for a game vs. the Detroit Tigers. These seats in previous years were also know as the Family or Non-Alcohol section.
Sheen and 2 of his friends spent the entire game in left field in hopes that someone would hit a home run out there. There were two home runs hit during this game one by Mark Parent and the other by Tim Wallach but neither of those balls went into the Left Field stands. Unfortunately Charlie’s attempt at Ballhawking was unsuccessful!
From 1987-1993 I was a regular in this section. We had season tickets out there in 1988 and 1989. I went to a handful of games after moving to California in 1987 and at the first game I went to after moving to Anaheim I grabbed a home run hit by Frank White of the Kansas City Royals. Over the next 6 years I would go on to grab 43 home runs in this section.
In 1988 alone I grabbed 37 game home runs in this section. I am pretty sure that I went to about 70 of the 81 home games in Anaheim during the 88 season. I really miss this old section. These days out in left field you have to deal with the bullpens, a longer distances to the field and a lot of issues that make getting a home run ball there much more difficult than it was back then.
Some of the memorable home runs that I caught out in the old Family Section over the years were Dante Bichette’s 1st Major League home run, Bob Boone’s 100th career home run, Carlton Fisk’s 350th career home run and Dave Winfield’s 450th career home run.
So Charlie anytime you want to get a lesson or two on catching home runs just give me a call I know you have my number now as well as a copy of my book! It would be a pleasure and an honor to go to a game or two with you to try and grab a home run ball!!
My Book, Charlie Sheen and an Almost EPIC Shoutout!!
Last week I got the crazy idea of sending one of my books to Charlie Sheen. I sent a copy of “Taking Home A Piece Of The Game” to Charlie at his “Sober Valley Lodge”. As I tracked the book and it’s travels online via USPS I got a bad feeling in my gut. It was out for delivery and then was back at the sorting facility in Santa Clarita.
I had sent the book to the address with Los Angeles as the city and not Beverly Hills. So I figured that in a couple of days the book would be returned to me and I would have to resend it. So I waited for the book to return but it never came back. Getting worried I went online to check USPS.com and see where it was and to my amazement it said DELIVERED on Sat. at 9:17am.
Ok so now I knew that my book had been delivered and the main reason I sent it was in an attempt to get an interview with Charlie for MyGameBalls.com. So I spent the next day and a half waiting for the phone to ring or for an email to pop into my gmail account. While I had my hopes set high I knew that more than likely nothing would come of it.
Then on USTREAM comes Sheen’s Korner with the first night being live. On Ustream you can Tweet in and ask questions etc but it was so unorganized (Sorry Charlie) that it was unlikely that my questions of him getting the book would be read or even seen. If I got really lucky it would show up on his desk that first night but to no avail.
So on went the Charlie Sheen solo blast’s and Torpedoes of Truth and no sign of my book or anything. Then came last nights FINAL EPISODE of Sheens Korner. Charlie went on his rant about the execs that fired him and everything else and at the 7:06 in the show (recorded on Ustream) Charlie lights up a cigarette and takes a drink of water. I looked at over and over and over again because there was something next to his printer that caught my eye. It was a book and it looked pretty damn close to my book.
I have looked at the photo (below) over and over again and still am not 100% positive that it is in fact my book but it looks a lot like it. Anyway, you can click on the picture to get a larger view and for those of you that have a copy of my book, you make the decision.
After a full night of no sleep wondering if in fact that was my book I decided to try to get to the botton of the mystery. I sent an email to someone involved with the Sheen’s Korner production and who is also a friend of Charlies. I simply told him that I was not as crazy as the email sounded but I had to know if that book was in fact the one I had sent Charlie just a couple days before
This guy was really cool, we sent a few emails back and fourth and he has said that he will mention it and find out if #1 Charlie did get my book and #2 if that was it next to his printer.
Ok, so you would think that this is the end of the story but it is not.
In the last email he sent me he added this, “look up roz wyman (my mom) if you are a baseball fan you will be impressed”
It turns out that his mom Roz Wyman was instrumental in getting the Dodgers to leave Brooklyn and head to LA!! That was very cool to find out! He then sent me a couple clips of his son interviewing some Major Leaguers and I returned my 1990 Levis commercial. So if nothing else I have made a friend with a guy that is as much of a baseball fan as I am. He also likely has just as many if not more stories about baseball!
So you might think this now is where the story ends but it doesn’t end there either!
About 25 minutes after talking via email to this guy I was just goofing around on Twitter and I checked my @MLBallhawk mentions and saw this (see photo)
I was really excited about seeing this but evidently my eyes didn’t catch the obvious at first. I wrote this story and the original ending was about a cool shoutout from a Warlock and how cool it was but AFTER FURTHER REVIEW look VERY CAREFULLY at the photo above ….. What’s wrong with it?? ………DAMN TROLLS!!!
Season and Career Ballhawking Totals
I have removed my totals from the sidebar on the right and will put this at the bottom of each post during the 2011 season. The side bar was simply to hard to update.
As for my website I am working on creating a new one. It is unlikely that I will have a new website completed this season. Currently I just don’t have the time to put into it.
So on all of the Domain Names that I have you will simply be sent here to my MLBlog for now. I have update my profile/info bar at the top as well.
MLB Balls* (RS) 2,977
MLB Balls (ST) 924
MLB Total 3,901
MiLB Balls 1,169
Baseballs Caught Over 35 Seasons
TOTAL 5,070
2011 Balls Caught
ST Balls 0
MLB Balls 0
MiLB Balls 0
Total Balls 0
MLB Balls* (RS) 2,977
MLB Balls (ST) 924
MLB Total 3,901
MiLB Balls 1,169
Baseballs Caught Over 35 Seasons
TOTAL 5,070
MLB Game HR balls* – 101
*includes MLB regular season, playoffs, world series, All Star and WBC games
“The Baseball: Stunts, Scandals, and Secrets Beneath the Stitches”
My friend and fellow Ballhawk, Zack Hample, has a new book that officially comes out tomorrow however it seems that several copies are out already! In fact his families book store got their shipment in today which he wrote about on Twitter.
I have already received a few emails and comments on twitter regarding my place in the book. I knew that Zack was going to talk about other Ballhawks in the book. I didn’t really know much else. I was “interviewed” via phone by Zack over a year and a half ago for what he was going to put in the book.
Anyway, I didn’t know if it was going to be a picture and two lines or what it might be. It turns out that each of Zacks top 10 Ballhawks got about 2 pages each. First of all I am honored that I am in the book at all. To be considered one of his top 10 is really cool. The coolest thing to me however is the fact that I am in the top 10 with 2 guys that I respect more than anyone in our hobby, MOE MULLINS and RICH BHURKE! These two guys are the top 2 Ballhawks of all time!
Tomorrow I am going to run out to the local bookstore just so I can read some of it and look at my 2 pages. For all of you that might be finding my MLBlog for the first time you can always add me on TWITTER @mlballhawk. I generally answer all of those that tweet me!
Anyway, I won’t go on and on about it and I just wanted to take a minute to thank Zack for not only including me in his book but also for offering to send me a copy and signing it too!
Thanks again Zack for including me in your latest masterpiece!
Everyone – Add me on TWITTER – @mlballhawk
The 2011 Baseball Season Has Arrived!!
Pitchers and catchers are reporting this week with most teams starting full workouts at the beginning of next week! I am definitely excited about the 2011 season.
Stay tuned ……… I am putting together a new website which will be ready for opening day at http://www.mlballhawk.com and http://www.majorleagueballhawk.com
It should be an exciting year for BALLHAWKS!!
Cubs Legend Ron Santo Dead at the Age of 70
Ron Santo spoke of Wrigley Field like this ”I felt like I was walking on air. There was an electricity and an atmosphere that I’d never experienced in my life. Any ballplayer that’s ever played here can tell you about that great atmosphere, and anybody who’s come here to watch a game feels the exact same way.”
For those that had ever met Ron Santo you knew he was the ultimate Cubs fan. Yes Santo played for the Cubs but he was also their biggest supporter. He was the most biased broadcaster in all of sports but that is what made Ron Santo one of the best.
Speaking of one of the best, Ron Santo should be in the Hall of Fame! His numbers are just as good if not better than some of the other Hall of Famers! To the Old Timers Committee – please do the right thing and finally give Ron his due. He sat by his phone every year waiting for the call and like a typical Cubs fan was disappointed when that big moment didn’t happen. RON SANTO DESERVES TO BE IN THE HALL OF FAME!!
All Cubs fans today lost a friend. During the tough times you knew that you could tune into a Cubs broadcast and listen to Ron and be fully entertained no matter how bad the team was going. When the team was winning it was even better!
Ron Santo will be missed for sure but he will never be forgotten!
Ron Santo truly bled CUBBIE BLUE!!
Angels vs. A’s – Sept. 28, 2010 – Last night game and BP of the season
A little over a week ago I got back out to LA from Chicago. I have been to 7 games in that time and luckily for me they have all been thanks to FREE tickets. The Angels had a Mexican Heritage Fiesta this past weekend that gave me tickets for the last couple of games with BP this season as well.
| Date | Home Team | Visiting Team | Stadium | BP? | Attendance | # Balls | Comp Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28, 2010 | Angels | Athletics | Angel Stadium of Anaheim | Yes | 43,000 | 3 | 129,000 |
| Sep 27, 2010 | Angels | Athletics | Angel Stadium of Anaheim | Yes | 40,414 | 1 | 40,414 |
| Sep 26, 2010 | Angels | White Sox | Angel Stadium of Anaheim | Yes | 42,686 | 1 | 42,686 |
| Sep 25, 2010 | Angels | White Sox | Angel Stadium of Anaheim | Yes | 40,758 | 5 | 203,790 |
| Sep 21, 2010 | Angels | Rangers | Angel Stadium of Anaheim | Yes | 41,707 | 1 | 41,707 |
| Sep 20, 2010 | Angels | Rangers | Angel Stadium of Anaheim | Yes | 41,404 | 3 | 124,212 |
So here I will write about Tuesday night and then in the near future, probably when I get back to Chicago, I will write about the rest of the action from the other games.
The gates opened right at 5pm as usual and lately I have been in no hurry to run inside. I took my time getting to my favorite spot and just as I got there I saw another Ballhawk getting his first ball of the day. Shortly after I got in my spot an adult with 4 little leaguers in tow came down. I knew that it was going to be a LOOOOOOONG BP session with them around.
Every ball that came around they were yelling and screaming at the guy who got it. By the time the A’s started taking BP they all had one ball and likely most of them had 2. The thing that kind of ticked me off was the fact that the adult with them seems to think that those of us in the cutouts are obligated to let the kids stand on the ledge. I have no problem with the kids and I generally help them get a ball but the kids were just obnoxious!
Anyway, I didn’t get anything while the Angels hit. Jack Cust was in the cage launching balls to the right field pavilion section and it had me thinking I should have gone up there. I decided to stay in my spot and shortly after 3 close calls it paid off.
Ball #3899 was a 4 hopper of the bat of Jack Cust. It was hit just a little to the right of me but with my 1st basemans mitt it was pretty easy to grab.
Ball #3900 came about 10 minutes later when Daric Barton stepped in the cage. He ripped a shot that hit off the wall in foul territory and then richocheted of the wall again close to where I was. I had to figure out the angle and then scoop it up like a first baseman!
Ball #3901 came just after that and it was another Daric Barton hit ball. This one was coming right at me and with no one around I got a little comedic. I stood up on the ledge, waved my arms as if I was calling everyone off and then leaned over the wall and made the grab.
I was just out there having fun tonight. Heckling the people that bring gloves and don’t know how to use it. Helping my new buddy, the 5 star kid (dont know his name), get a ball or two. By the way the 5 star nickname comes from his brother slapping his back with an open hand giving him a 5 star handprint on it.
I even called three balls that went to fellow Ballhawk, Ely! As the balls went up in the air I would yell “That’s all you Ely! Don’t screw it up!” Thankfully he caught them all!
It is sad to see the baseball season end so early here is So Cal. We have become used to having playoffs at one if not both baseball venues. Oh well, this trip was just a nice escape from some personal stuff that I am dealing with.
Stay tuned for the updates on the rest of the games that I went to!!
I also have some big plans for 2011! I hope to find a Cancer Charity to raise money for through Ballhawking as I did with Baseballs 4 MADD.
So happy Ballhawking to those of you that have a few more games left and the playoffs to come!
COMMENTS?? QUESTIONS?? EMAIL ME at JWITT@MLBALLHAWK.COM
Coming soon …………. recap of the final games I went to this season!
Stay tuned! There is a MILESTONE post coming!!
Stuart Hample, 1926-2010
This is something that I felt was important to share. Friend, fellow ballhawk and MLBlogger Zack Hample lost his father this past week. My thoughts and prayers go out to Zack and his family! Zack’s father was an amazing man as you can read in the lengthy obituary that the New York Times wrote
Zack has requested that people refrain from sending emails, cards, making phone calls etc. You can however leave a comment on his MLBlog at http://snaggingbaseballs.mlblogs.com
Update on “The Kid” Jake Shuster
So after I wrote the story about lil’ Jake Shuster and his awesome home run catch I emailed several contacts with the Rays and even a couple with the Yankees. Why? I did this because I thought maybe someone in either organization would think it was as cool as all of us did and help us get him to one of the Yankees / Rays games this week.
I was really hopeful that one of the emails that went to the Rays would stir up just a little interest in getting him to one of the games at Yankees stadium so he could meet Brad Hawpe and get the ball signed. I figured there would be no response to from the Yankees as they had nothing really to do with it at all.
So with no responses from anyone to my attempts I gave his mom Stacie some contacts and some info. She either called or emailed the Yankees and while they didn’t offer to set up a meeting or anything they did send him a fan pack with some pretty cool stuff.
Jake’s mom sent me a message telling me about the package just after it arrived and Jake was really surprised and very happy! This may be a first for me but to say something good about the Yankees, that is a pretty classy thing the Yankees did!
So if anyone from the RAYS reads this ……… let’s hook this kid up with tickets to the game on Wed or Thurs and get him to meet Brad Hawpe!
Recent Comments