Griffey home run ball SCANDAL

June 11th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanR

There is one thought in the back of everyone’s mind upon entering the bleachers of ballparks across America: “Maybe I’ll catch a home run ball.” This may never be consciously spoken to fellow attendees, but the idea is there nonetheless. It’s just part of  the experience. (Or so I’m telling you now. Bow to me and my sweeping generalizations, blog readers!)

But that thought is rarely acted upon because a) home runs are scarcely hit during a game b) you are probably sitting in a different section than said scarce home run balls and c) you have bad hands. But hey, if you just happened to be there the night Ken Griffey, Jr. hit No. 600 and you didn’t actually catch the ball … you can always pretend.

 … Kimball, a 25-year-old Miami man, said he caught Griffey’s milestone home run at Dolphin Stadium and placed the ball in a wool cap. The cap was pulled from his hands, and someone ran away with the ball, Kimball said, according to news reports.

It was not clear whether Kimball claimed that the fugitive was a one-armed man. Or why anybody would be wearing a wool cap in the sweltering heat of Miami.

[ … ]

Police officers who witnessed the home run said they escorted to safety a man identified only as “Joe,” who possessed the ball and appeared to have caught it with a glove.

“The video was reviewed numerous times with the same conclusion,” according to a statement issued Tuesday by the Miami-Dade police. “The claim of Mr. Kimball is in direct conflict with the video replays and observations of officers on the scene.”

The best part of this whole story is this cat “Joe” that actually caught the ball is being super secretive and — get this — actually brought a decoy ball with him that he dropped to get people off his scent as he peaced out of there. This is a dude that certainly thought he was going to catch a home run ball that  evening — the home run ball in fact.

This post has now come full circle.

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