Kid who caught Jeter ball the Anti Happy Youngster

by WSB Chris on Jul 10, 2011 8:35 AM CDT

I thought it was so cool that the Yankee fan who caught the 3000 hit home run ball from Derrick Jeter did not try to hold it hostage or sell it he. He just wanted to give it back to Jeter. I think it is also very cool how the even though he did not ask Jeter and the Yankees showered him with swag. Shows that you can do the right thing and still get rewarded. Can you imagine if this was Milwaukee and that Douche bag HY had caught the ball his lawyers would still be in negotiations with Jeter and the Yankees

Kid does the right thing

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I think the Happy Youngster would have a change of heart after finding the horse's head in his bed.

Applying pop culture to Brewers discussions since 2009, earning the nickname of "Our Little Abed".

by Yar Nivek on Jul 10, 2011 4:43 PM CDT reply actions

I am waiting for some big construction worker type to just pole ax HY someday

I would pay to see that lol

"It's a joke. It's all a joke.

by WSB Chris on Jul 10, 2011 8:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Not gonna lie

if I was in the right place at the right time and caught a historic home run, and I could get some swag by being nice and giving it back, or sell it and make a down payment on a house…I’m doing the latter.

Happy Youngster is a little different considering he’s a self-proclaimed ball hawk who specifically tries to get balls to hold people hostage.

by Archibaldcrane on Jul 10, 2011 7:31 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I understand the take the money and run mindset

and would have no problem with someone deciding to try and make a dollar but it was refreshing to see the guy just give the ball back. and It was cool that the Yankees as an organization took care of the guy because they realize what the could have done.

"It's a joke. It's all a joke.

by WSB Chris on Jul 10, 2011 8:12 PM CDT up reply actions

I completely agree.

And I’d have left the stadium with the ball anyway. I can’t stand the Happy Youngster either and if I caught an HR ball a player wanted back I probably wouldn’t bargain for more in most circumstances (let alone put up a website), but if I’ve got a ball some people think is worth 250 grand, I’m keeping it.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Jul 10, 2011 8:52 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Money isn't everything

I’d give the player the ball back, and thank him for entertaining us and staying loyal to the town that loves him.

by nullacct on Jul 11, 2011 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions

That's an honorable stance

However, just remember…

The fan is the one that the players are getting paid ($15M this season in Jeter’s case) to entertain. It’s the fan who paid money for his/her ticket to sit in the stands to watch the game… and it’s the fan’s ball once he/she catches it. It’s up to that individual to do whatever they want with the ball.

It’s the fan’s right… but I don’t like it when fans hold a ball hostage. My opinion is to either give it back or keep it. Don’t make a spectacle out of the situation (particularly by holding out for as much as possible). I also don’t like it when players act like they’re entitled to the ball.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Jul 11, 2011 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Money doesn't make something right

Even if it’s a lot of money. It’s his achievement, I’d give him the ball back.

by nullacct on Jul 11, 2011 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions

There's really no right or wrong answer here

Just boils down to personal preference.

His achievement is meaningless if there aren’t any fans.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Jul 11, 2011 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

You can rationalize it any way you want I suppose

Reminds me of an old joke; guy walks into a bar and sees a gal. We walks up to her and says “If I paid you a million dollars, would you sleep with me?” And she smiles and says “A million dollars? Sure!” So he says “Ok, how about fifty bucks for the night then.” She says “Fifty bucks? What kind of girl do you think I am?”

“Well,” he says, “You’ve already answered that. Now we’re just dickering over the price.”

I’m a Brewer fan, and that loyalty isn’t for sale. And I recognize that the player would want to keep that ball even more than I would, so I’d give it to him.

by nullacct on Jul 11, 2011 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions

So they guy who caught it was $100K in student loan debt

And is currently selling cell phones.

I’m sure if he explained the situation to the billionaire player, he’d probably understand.

Get a ife broseph

by Supertramp on Jul 11, 2011 5:27 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Not sure what being a Brewers fan has to do with the 3000th hit by a Yankee

But like I said, it’s personal preference.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Jul 12, 2011 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions

The appropriate example would be

Had it been Yount’s 3,000th hit, I wouldn’t have held it hostage. I would have thanked him for being loyal to Milwaukee, and I’m sure no matter how much I would love to keep it as a souvenir, he probably wants it more, and did a lot more to make it happen.

by nullacct on Jul 12, 2011 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Not me, no way.

It’s a 1 in a million chance.
It would be a great opportunity for you and your family to have some financial security.
It’s a freaking baseball.
If Jeter wants it so bad he could buy it, he’s one f the most overpaid players in baseball.

If Jeter threw a briefcase with a million dollars in it into the stands and the stadium rules stated that anything thrown into the stands was the property of the person who caught it, no way would he get it back.

It’s essentially the same scenario…. since it was his 3000th hit, let’s say that the briefcase was his favorite briefcase of all time that he’d had since he was a boy.

Wouldn’t matter, he wouldn’t be getting it back.

For your health!

by menchkins on Jul 15, 2011 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Loyal to the town who loves him?

Who else would have paid Jeter $15m a year?

Give him an offspeed pitch down and in. He will swing and miss.

by cooper82 on Jul 11, 2011 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Red Sox

Retro uniforms: 3-0 in July

by molitorfan on Jul 11, 2011 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions

They could have paid him that

but I don’t know if they would have paid him that.

They seem to a little smarter in terms of who they’re giving their huge contracts to.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Jul 12, 2011 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions

There is no way I'd ever give an important ball back to anybody for next to nothing.

I’m trying to eat and pay these bills.

I don't get why some people think I'm weird.

by Dikembe Meiztombo on Jul 10, 2011 9:36 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Agreed 100%

Plus, it’s not very difficult for these players to contribute a little something something. Just don’t be a jerk like the Happy Youngster

Steve
http://nohuddleoffense.blogspot.com

by stigmo on Jul 10, 2011 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm not a happy youngster apologist

But I cannot knock his hustle.

If I could do what he does, minus the attention grabbing, and make enough money to keep me from working a lame ass job like most of us do…I’d be on it.

I don't get why some people think I'm weird.

by Dikembe Meiztombo on Jul 10, 2011 10:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Does the Happy Youngster even make money on that?

Thought he just wants the memorabilia for himself/family.

Can’t fault anyone for doing what they can to make money, but its extremely lame to ask Geoff Jenkins to get autographed Prince Fielder bats simply to feed their collections.

Get a ife broseph

by Supertramp on Jul 11, 2011 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions

This

No problem getting swag from the guy who hit the HR, but to also ask him to get a teammates autograph? That’s taking it a little too far.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Jul 11, 2011 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions

It sounds like he feels he's on pretty solid financial ground

or at least he thinks he is. I would probably give the ball back, but I would ask to meet the guy and see if they have any playoff tickets available for my friends and me. If Jeter really is one of Lopez’ heroes (not unreasonable given that he’s only 23 years old), there isn’t any amount of money he could’ve sold it for that would grant access to Jeter.

, depending upon the tax implications. I can’t imagine how much the IRS is going to decide those suite seats for 40 games + playoffs are worth. According to their website, the cheapest those tickets go for at $315 / seat. 4 seats = $1260. Figure the Yankees have about 35 home games left and the tickets for the rest of the regular season are $44,100. If they manage to get to through to the World Series, that would easily go over $50,000. That’s a f*cktonof taxes. Here’s to hoping the Yankees front office realizes the financial position they graciously put him in and their accountants figure out how to give the guy a hand with those come next April.

Founder of the BCBCU - Est. 2011

by ecocd on Jul 11, 2011 8:21 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Or he just sells some of the tickets.

by Archibaldcrane on Jul 11, 2011 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions

(or doesn't report them on his taxes, the most likely outcome)

by Archibaldcrane on Jul 11, 2011 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions

True

But I wonder if he’s more likely to get audited now.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Jul 11, 2011 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions

since they tickets to a sky box I am guessing there are rules for reselling them

they have to keep the common fans out of their club house ;)

"It's a joke. It's all a joke.

by WSB Chris on Jul 11, 2011 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions

my guess is the Yankees have some pretty good Tax Attorneys on retainer

They will figure out a way to do this with sticking the kid with a huge tax bill that would be bad PR. If the is a guest in their suite I do not think it would be any different than having a company like say GE taking people to their box at Miller Park you do not have to pay tax on that.

He could be the Guest of the Yankees for all those games not the “owner” of the tickets

"It's a joke. It's all a joke.

by WSB Chris on Jul 11, 2011 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions

If you're that much in dire straits

Then what are you doing wasting your money on a baseball ticket

by nullacct on Jul 12, 2011 7:10 AM CDT up reply actions

Entertainment?

He didn’t say he couldn’t afford it.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Jul 12, 2011 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions

If you're struggling to eat and pay the bills

You shouldn’t be wasting money on entertainment

by nullacct on Jul 12, 2011 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions

The guy got his ticket from his GF for his birthday, its not like he dropped a ton of cash on it.

What YOU would do is different from what others would do, it depends on where you’re at financially. I’d never complain if someone did something to set themselves up better financially if that’s what they wanted to do.

Get a ife broseph

by Supertramp on Jul 12, 2011 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions

There's definitely a generation gap here

by nullacct on Jul 12, 2011 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe

I’m not comfortable telling another person what to if they acquire something of value. Everyone’s situation in life is different.

I think its fine that you would give the ball back for nothing, I think its fine if someone else does something different with it.

Get a ife broseph

by Supertramp on Jul 12, 2011 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm not saying that someone should or shouldn't do something with that baseball

I’m just saying that there exists a set of morality for some people within which the price of the ball is not a factor in their decision.

by nullacct on Jul 12, 2011 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Right

You feel a moral obligation to give the ball to the player, others might have a moral obligation to sell the ball to help their family’s financial standing.

Or you could be like the guy that got Barry Bond’s HR ball and blew it up or whatever.

Get a ife broseph

by Supertramp on Jul 12, 2011 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions

You think so?

I think you could find people of different generations that would have different opinions on the subject.

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Jul 12, 2011 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Who said anything about struggling?

Reread what he stated…

I’m trying to eat and pay these bills.

I’d guess that it probably applies to at least 95% of the people on this site. Who doesn’t have bills that need to be paid each month and food to buy?

Pujols is the Barack Obama of baseball.

by sjlee on Jul 12, 2011 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

You argue too much.

by nullacct on Jul 12, 2011 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

My take is that it's just a ball

Throw it in a box with 50 other baseballs and no one knows which one it is. It means something to Jeter, so I think I would let him have it. Just give me a handshake and a photo op with the guy.

He’s actually underrated, but that’s another can of worms…

by jarlbartar on Jul 12, 2011 7:50 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

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