The fan who caught the home run that represented Albert Pujols’s 2000th RBI is keeping the ball.
SportingNews.com
It may seem petty that a player would complain about not getting a ball back for a historical moment, but it’s common for fans to give balls and other items back and receive something in return from players.
Hydes did not give it back, but he was dealt a little bit of karma for the action.
He left the stadium without getting the ball authenticated, which means there is no way to prove where it came from. As a result, he can’t auction it off and receive anything in return for it.
I’m not sure about that. Plenty of fans caught balls long before there were authentications. There are pictures from the game of the fan with the ball.
If nothing else, it will be a keepsake for his posterity.