The lucky fan who came out of the scrum in the left-centerfield seats clutching Derek Jeter's historic 3,000th hit has given the ball back to his favorite player in exchange for season tickets.
Christian Lopez, the young cell-phone salesman from up-state New York, came out of the scramble for the valuable home-run ball and held it high in the air. Early estimates of it's value start at $250,000 and have gone as high as half a million dollars because it was a homer.
It's a moot point now, Lopez said he was happy to give the ball back to Jeter.
Lopez was contacted, in the stands, by Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner via phone call after the big catch and accepted his offer of four Champion Suite seats at Yankee Stadium for the rest of the season through the World Series and assorted signed bats and balls in exchange for the coveted ball.
The die-hard Yankees fan was also promised a chance to meet with his idol, Jeter.
"That would be really cool," said the soft-spoken Lopez. "I just came here to watch history."
Now he is a part of it.
It's a sure bet that Jeter will up the reward for Lopez's unselfish act.
In a TV interview, Lopez said he was awed by the Yankee Stadium route he took to the broadcast booth. When asked about his personal life, Lopez said he was a life-long Yankees fan who claimed he was "getting by."
Christian, you did a noble thing for a grateful player. Now get ready for the interviews and attention.
Showing posts with label 3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 3. Show all posts
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Rainout Could Make Jeter's Quest For 3,000th Hit At Yankee Stadium Difficult
Tonight's scheduled game between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium has been called due to heavy rains. The rainout delays Derek Jeter's quest for 3,000 hits and stalls the hit count at 2,998. The cancellation slims Jeter's from getting his milestone 3,000th hit at Yankee Stadium by one-third.
Word from the Yankees is the the game will be made up on September 22. A request for a doubleheader this weekend was denied by the Rays.
Jeter was scheduled to bat second in the Yankees lineup and is only two hits short of the big 3K. Jeter now has only two home games, this Saturday and Sunday, to get the historic hit in front of New York fans at Yankee Stadium before the team hits the road.
Local weather reports predict near perfect weather, sunny and in the mid-80's, for Saturday and Sunday's games.
After the All-Star break, Monday through Wednesday, the Yankees head to Toronto on the first game of an eight-game road trip.
The Yankees return to Yankee Stadium on July 22 to face the Oakland A's.
Word from the Yankees is the the game will be made up on September 22. A request for a doubleheader this weekend was denied by the Rays.
Local weather reports predict near perfect weather, sunny and in the mid-80's, for Saturday and Sunday's games.
After the All-Star break, Monday through Wednesday, the Yankees head to Toronto on the first game of an eight-game road trip.
The Yankees return to Yankee Stadium on July 22 to face the Oakland A's.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Jeter Put On 15-day DL: Poised To Get 3,000th Hit Against Mets In Citi Field
The New York Yankees placed Derek Jeter on the 15-day DL shortly before 6 p.m. today and, as fate would have it, the Yankees captain could possibly get his historic 3,000th hit against cross-town rivals, the New York Mets, in Citi Field. Ticket prices just went through the roof for that series.
Jeter tried to convince Yankees GM Brian Cashman to give him a few days off, but Cashman wouldn't budge and announced that his star would be sitting for 15 days.
An MRI showed a Grade 1 Strain of Jeter's right calf after running out a fly-out in the fifth inning of last night's 1-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians. Jeter got his 2994th hit in the first and went 1-for-3 on the night.
Cashman knew it wasn't going to be easy getting Jeter to be a spectator for 15 days but, with all the injuries and light hitting on the Yankees, he knew he couldn't take a chance on Jeter compounding the injury just for history's sake and he took the safe route.
A seven day rest period would have meant Jeter could have resumed playing on the June 24 home stand against the Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers and possibly collecting # 3,000 in front of the home fans.
Jeter last sat out on May 5.
Cashman probably remembers how Alex Rodriguez had the same "low-grade" strain last year and sat out three games before aggravating the injury necessitating A-Rod going on the 15-day DL.
The 36 year-old Jeter will miss a six-game road trip to Wrigley Field and Cincinnati before returning during the last two games of a home-stand series against the Brewers and finally heading to Flushing and the Mets on July 1-3.
For now, the 3,000th hit will have to wait.
Jeter said being put on the DL was "a little bit frustrating." It is the fifth time Jeter has been on the DL in 15 1/2 seasons and the first time since 2003.
The Mets organization must be thrilled with the Yankees misfortune. It means they will possibly fill up CitiField for three games. Sellouts in Flushing are pretty rare.
For the Yankees fans, at least Jeter still might get his monumental hit in New York.
Jeter tried to convince Yankees GM Brian Cashman to give him a few days off, but Cashman wouldn't budge and announced that his star would be sitting for 15 days.
Cashman knew it wasn't going to be easy getting Jeter to be a spectator for 15 days but, with all the injuries and light hitting on the Yankees, he knew he couldn't take a chance on Jeter compounding the injury just for history's sake and he took the safe route.
A seven day rest period would have meant Jeter could have resumed playing on the June 24 home stand against the Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers and possibly collecting # 3,000 in front of the home fans.
Jeter last sat out on May 5.
Cashman probably remembers how Alex Rodriguez had the same "low-grade" strain last year and sat out three games before aggravating the injury necessitating A-Rod going on the 15-day DL.
The 36 year-old Jeter will miss a six-game road trip to Wrigley Field and Cincinnati before returning during the last two games of a home-stand series against the Brewers and finally heading to Flushing and the Mets on July 1-3.
For now, the 3,000th hit will have to wait.
Jeter said being put on the DL was "a little bit frustrating." It is the fifth time Jeter has been on the DL in 15 1/2 seasons and the first time since 2003.
The Mets organization must be thrilled with the Yankees misfortune. It means they will possibly fill up CitiField for three games. Sellouts in Flushing are pretty rare.
For the Yankees fans, at least Jeter still might get his monumental hit in New York.
