I'm very torn and need serious advice.

by PopeFlick on Aug 1, 2007 12:19 AM CDT

So the Giants/Dodgers game appears to be wrapping up this evening with Bonds not getting the hit he needs.

I live in Los Angeles, and have a seat in the right field bleachers for tomorrow night's game. The problem isn't whether or not I'll go - I am. The PROBLEM as I see it, is whether or not to bring a throwback ball or two in the event he goes yard against Hendrickson.

Clearly, it wouldn't be your typical throwback.

Given that most of us are purveyors of Wrigley (or at least are in tune with the happenings there) beyond your standard, SINGLE throwback on a home run throwing things onto the field is a blemish upon the game. It's too bad it doesn't happen less often in Wrigley, but we all know the mob type thinking propensity surely exists.

And given the Giants/Dodgers rivalry is so surly -as nasty as StL.Chi- I'm pretty sure that a throwback ball would start a domino effect whereby trash gets thrown on the field, while Barry makes his trot. I don't want to be a part of starting that, yet find the notion of a throwback on that home run very seductive, to be quite honest.

The question is - do I want to be 'that guy?' Would you want to be 'that guy/girl?'

That's my question, I don't know the answer for myself. I have some time to decide and hopeully hear others out.

My ultimate fear is that my 15 minutes of fame would result in constant replays on ESPN, and be forever linked with Frankenstein's monster.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Bring the ball

Regardless of whether or not others will admit it, they will all be doing the same thing. And I'm sure that the majority of balls at Wrigley are not authentic, either...

Tinker to Evers to Chance!

by sanantonecub on Aug 1, 2007 12:12 AM CDT reply actions

Don't throw anything back

If by some miracle you DO get the homer, you'd be insane to throw it back. Not worth tossing away your kid's college education (or new car, or iPhone, or whatever) and, as you suggest, either way the statement could go down in infamy. And don't forget that whomever catches his homer will be on camera for several minutes - you wouldn't get away with the switcheroo.

Plus, there's a part of me that thinks throwing back homers should be a Wrigley thing only. Don't contribute to other stealing our tradition!

"I don't know what I'm talking about, and I'm pretty sure you don't either." -David Letterman to Bill O'Reilly

by hipster17 on Aug 1, 2007 12:30 AM CDT reply actions

No offense, but....

....if you don't know I'm already talking about a fake ball, then you don't know much about the "tradition." ;)

Me and a buddy already joked we'd negotiate playoff tickets for life or something like that, from MLB.

Besides the obvious - Go Irish.

Z. He doesn't need an exclamtion point. He is one.

by PopeFlick on Aug 1, 2007 12:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Don't do it

You're right--throwing anything on the field is going to incite a mob of things on the field. Besides, security is going to be all over the bleachers there. If you're lucky enough to catch the ball, they're going to whisk you out of there, tout de suite And if you don't catch it, I think it's bad form to throw one out anyway.

Besides, everybody is going to know it's a throwback ball.

And the SF/LA rivalry is much nastier than the Cubs/Cardinals, if you ask me. People have been killed in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium, although I generally think that those are usually just gang members/thugs looking who just want an excuse to kill someone.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 1, 2007 3:11 AM CDT reply actions

Sage advice

from JoshinLA.

I'd say don't be that guy because most likely since you had the good sense to doubt the behavior you are better than that. No point in contributing to what could be a tense situation. Keep your head and enjoy the moment. Besides, in the heat of the moment you might accidentally throw the wrong ball and you'd be forever bummed out and ridiculed. Just not worth it.

I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Robert McCloskey

by pageian on Aug 1, 2007 7:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Here is my advice

You bring the fake ball, you use permanent marker to write CHEATER in very large letters to the game, and if by chance you get the ball (should he hit it), you make sure that "CHEATER" ball makes it to the infield!

Then you sell the hell out of that ball and put your kids through college, or have some fun, whatever you want.

MMMMM...Hebrew National

by Kinky Reggae on Aug 1, 2007 8:20 AM CDT reply actions

That might make sense

if steroids had been against the rules when Barry was using them.

by Aaron @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Aug 1, 2007 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Whatever you say...

okay, the guy has caught Aaron all by himself with no help. Come to think of it though, I am through arguing with people about whether Bonds is a cheater.

The plan makes sense to me (as well as a good portion of this country))and that is all that matters.

MMMMM...Hebrew National

by Kinky Reggae on Aug 1, 2007 7:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't you...

...get ejected in pretty much every ballpark besides Wrigley for throwing a ball back as it's throwing something onto the field of play?

by jolietconvict on Aug 1, 2007 8:24 AM CDT reply actions

Not any more.

It's become practice at quite a number of parks -- I saw at least one of Alfonso Soriano's HR tossed back on the field in Atlanta. No one was ejected.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Aug 1, 2007 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions

That's too bad...

...because I think it's a ridiculous practice. How many times to do we have to see the drunks in the bleachers berating some poor little kid who should be excited that they caught a homerun ball?

by jolietconvict on Aug 1, 2007 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions

There are kids in the bleachers?!

That's just bad parenting.

by IllinoisCubs on Aug 1, 2007 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Another idea

Bring the fake ball. If you get the homer, hand the fake ball to the guy next to you, and tell him to throw it back. He probably will.

The call of the Cub fan, c. 1893: "one long, ravaged, derisive yell...a cyclonic whoop!"

by cubzfan on Aug 1, 2007 8:30 AM CDT reply actions

Yup.

Excellent idea.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Aug 1, 2007 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions

That would be ballless...

....don't you think?

:rimshot:

And to be clear, this isn't in the anticipation of actually getting the damn thing. But a few rows up in right field means there's a decent shot it lands in my area. The poster below about being concerned about the rush is spot on as well. That's why one of my buddies is 6'5" 280. I'm 5'10" 175 soaking wet.

Besides the obvious - Go Irish.

Z. He doesn't need an exclamtion point. He is one.

by PopeFlick on Aug 1, 2007 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Bonds

I'd be far more concerned about being trampled or assaulted if I was in a position to have a shot at that baseball.

And won't #756 be the valuable one?

by davearm on Aug 1, 2007 9:17 AM CDT reply actions

Actually....

... the most valuable Bonds HR ball won't be #756. It will be whatever ball is hit for his LAST home run, whenever that is -- because that's the number A-Rod will be shooting for about six or seven years from now.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Aug 1, 2007 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd say

they are both of great value in the baseball world. I still say make sure the throwback says CHEATER.

MMMMM...Hebrew National

by Kinky Reggae on Aug 1, 2007 9:23 AM CDT reply actions

I wouldn't

do it. It's a Wrigley tradition, and I always cringe when I'm at another park and somebody throws a ball back.

Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity - Einstein

by cubbieblue86 on Aug 1, 2007 9:33 AM CDT reply actions

DO IT!

Let Barry know how you feel!!!!!

MMMMM...Hebrew National

by Kinky Reggae on Aug 1, 2007 9:41 AM CDT reply actions

Though

I do have to agree that I hate watching people yell at a kid who may have been lucky enough to come up with a HR ball, to throw it back. There ought to be guidelines...18 and up can be berated, not minors.

MMMMM...Hebrew National

by Kinky Reggae on Aug 1, 2007 9:42 AM CDT reply actions

don't do it

and get the hell out as fast as possible before someone mugs you for the hr ball

(personally I'd call the Giants, and tell them I 'd like to offer it to Barry first)

keeping mediocrity at bay

by flyball on Aug 1, 2007 9:42 AM CDT reply actions

You're not going to catch it...

... so don't fret it.

by kidk on Aug 1, 2007 9:45 AM CDT reply actions

I think

an important point to be noted here is, how often does the catcher of the ball really throw it back? I'd imagine about 50/50. From sitting in the bleachers at least 10 games a year for 10 years now, it is pretty obvious that it is not all that often that the catcher of the ball always throws it back.

Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity - Einstein

by cubbieblue86 on Aug 1, 2007 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions

That's where I'm coming from...

...many throwbacks are fake, and while the odds of me catching the ball are slim to none, the odds of me 'being in the area' close enough to make a throwback seem funny are pretty ok. Not great, but ok.

Besides the obvious - Go Irish.

Z. He doesn't need an exclamtion point. He is one.

by PopeFlick on Aug 1, 2007 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions

The difference is that all the Bonds balls...

...are stamped with special holograms and serial numbers and whatnot. And this will be the most covered home run ball of the decade, easily. Everyone is going to figure out REAL quickly that this wasn't Bond's ball. I wouldn't do it.

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Aug 1, 2007 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions