The fan who came up with Barry Bonds’ record-tying 755th home run ball is cashing in.
Adam Hughes, a 33-year-old plumber from La Jolla, Calif., said Friday that he was going to sell the souvenir through SCP Auctions.
Earlier this week, David Kohler, the president of SCP, said he expected the ball to fetch at least $75,000 to $100,000. The minimum bid price has not been determined.
Hughes got the ball in the left-center field seats last Saturday at Petco Park in San Diego. Bonds’ homer tied Hank Aaron’s career mark.
“He made a lifetime achievement and I feel very fortunate that I caught this ball. Never in a million years did I expect it,” Hughes said in a statement released by the auction house.
SCP, which is a partner of Sotheby’s and specializes in high-end sports items, said the ball would be available in an online auction Aug. 28-Sept. 14.
Three days after tying the record, Bonds hit home run No. 756 to top Aaron.
Matt Murphy, the 21-year-old New Yorker who caught Bonds’ record-breaker in San Francisco, told NBC’s “Today Show” on Thursday that he was leaning toward keeping his prize, even though it could fetch around $500,000.
“It’s the greatest American sports accomplishment in history,” Murphy said.
Sports collecting experts say the most valuable Bonds ball will be his last home run. And the value of that may be tempered over suspicions that Bonds used steroids and because New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez has a chance of breaking the record within the next decade.
Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball from 1998 brought $3 million. Three years later, Bonds broke that single-season record.
Hughes said he expected to share the money with the cousin who attended the game with him. With the remaining money, he plans to pay off some debts, donate to charity and then “sock away” whatever is left.
Add A Comment