SAN DIEGO (AP) -A self-proclaimed San Diego Padres fan scooped up Barry Bonds’ record-tying home run ball by standing behind the scrum of fans diving for a piece of history.
“I’m pretty ecstatic,” said Adam Hughes, a 33-year-old plumber from suburban La Jolla. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
Did he ever.
Bonds hit No. 755 Saturday night, tying him with Hank Aaron as baseball’s most prolific home run hitter. He sent a fastball from Kansas City’s Clay Hensley the opposite way into the lower left-field seats at Petco Park to lead off the second inning.
“I was kind of rooting for it,” Hughes said. “As Barry Bonds said, records are made to be broken. It was quite an accomplishment.”
The ball clanged off an advertising sign attached to the upper deck and fell into the seats below.
“I saw it hit above me and came down on the ground,” a still dazed Hughes said. “I was at the back of the pile. I pretty much jumped up and said, ‘I got it!”’
The ball traveled an estimated 382 feet in the direction of Hughes, who was in the front row with his cousin Justin Marquardt. They got the tickets through Hughes’ mother, who bought them from a friend.
The specially marked ball was immediately authenticated by major league officials.
Bonds and Hughes didn’t speak when they crossed paths at a post-game news conference.
“He’s probably anxious to go out and celebrate with his family,” Hughes said.
And Hughes’ plans?
“Just go home and lay awake for hours thinking, ‘Why me? How did I get so lucky?”’
Add A Comment
THIS IS NOT A GAMBLING SITE – If you think you have a gambling problem click here.
Disclaimer: This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Individual users are responsible for the laws regarding accessing gambling information from their jurisdictions. Many countries around the world prohibit gambling, please check the laws in your location. Any use of this information that may violate any federal, state, local or international law is strictly prohibited.
Copyright: The information contained on TheSpread.com website is protected by international copyright and may not be reproduced, or redistributed in any way without expressed written consent.
About: TheSpread.com is the largest sports betting news site in the United States. We provide point spread news, odds, statistics and information to over 175 countries around the world each year. Our coverage includes all North American College and Professional Sports as well as entertainment, political and proposition wagering news.
©1999-2023 TheSpread.com