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I wish I was taller

A comment by PositivePaul on Brett's Facebook page last night took me back in time.  Basically Paul said he hopes either Brett or me is able to catch a homer from Griffey this season.

Well, I have caught a good number of homers over the years and the cool part is most of them have been Mariner players.  Tino was my first but I also have an Edgar, Boone, Sexson, Roberto Kelly, Jose Offerman!, Paul Sorrento and Raul Ibanez just to name a few. 

However, I never caught a Griffey homer outside of batting practice.  The reason is a pretty simple one.  My seats in the Kingdome were in the front row in right field.  Griffey hardly ever hit cheapies back in the day.  They went into the second or third deck over my head or they were hit more towards centerfield.  I saw hundreds of homers off his bat over the years, but rarely was I close to one.

There was the one that got away though and oh how painful a memory it is.  It was the next to last game of the 1997 season and Jr. was well on his way to the MVP award.  Most people remember this particular game because Lou brought Randy out of the pen in relief of Omar Olivares to get his 20th win.He became the M's first 20 game winner that day because of it.

It just so happened that Griffey also hit his 56th and final homer of the season on that day.  It was a shallow shot just to left of my seats off of a pitch from Brad Rigby.  I jumped out of my seat and ran over to the spot.  I put my glove up and stretched my 5'9" frame out to the ball waiting for the glorious moment.  Just as the ball was about to hit my mitt I see an arm reach in front of mine and grab the ball at the last second.

I look over and some guy standing about 6'6" is jumping for joy.  I was so pissed I wanted to punch him, but he had a teenage girl with him so I just walked away.  Turns out the asshole turned the whole thing into a fiasco as he asked for the moon from the team and Griffey in return for the ball.

I don't know whatever became of that ball, but I know if I had caught it that I would have kept it just like all of the other balls I have caught over the years.  Ok I did throw the Lenny Webster one at Norm Charlton and I gave the Kelly one to my cousin, but this one would have been a cherished catch.

As time has gone by I have mostly forgotten that day and how upset I was, but now I have to admit that I do in fact want my Griffey homer.  Maybe having a slower bat and weakened muscles will play into my favor this year, who knows.  You are back Jr. and as much as I am not all that pumped about it, hit me a damn ball to rectify what was a very sad day for me 12 years ago.

2 recs  |  Comment 45 comments

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I was on the patio in centerfield when he hit his 398th (and until now) last home run as a Mariner

it landed about 20 feet away, right behind the center field wall, and some guy jumped the railing to go get, got arrested, and was dragged from the stadium. I think he got to keep the ball, though.

If I’d known that would be traded four months later, I’m pretty sure I would have jumped that railing too.

by seattlebruin on Feb 19, 2009 10:33 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Nice story.

Also, “Ken Griffey Jr. (DH – SEA)”, eggggggggcellent.

by appleshampoo on Feb 19, 2009 10:33 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

We need to trade for Swisher ASAP

Wanna be a baller, shot caller
Twenty inch blades on the Impala
Caller gettin laid tonight
Swisher rolled tight

by Wilder. on Feb 19, 2009 10:46 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

My favorite:

Hey, I wish I had my way
’Cause everyday would be a Friday
You could even speed on the highway
I would play ghetto games
Name my kids ghetto names
Little Mookie, Big Al, Lorraine

by Teej on Feb 19, 2009 11:48 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Must be reading my mind.

/rec

Free Stephen "Awesome" Strasburg!

by seattlecougar on Feb 19, 2009 12:53 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Damn it.

I lose when away from the computer all day.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 19, 2009 6:25 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Damn, I was wrong...

I want BOTH of you guys to get Jr. homers…

If I get MY wish — you’ll both get plenty of chances.

:-)

This signature space for rent.

by PositivePaul on Feb 19, 2009 10:37 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Take me with you. I need things to write about.

61/755: KGJ's homer totals, or Rosie O'Donnell's age/weight in 2019?

by kevin_ess on Feb 19, 2009 3:14 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Not to be a buzzkill, but I have to say that I'd probably do the same thing if I were that guy.

Why should I just give the ball to Junior just because he hit the home run? That’s my ball, I don’t have a lot of money, and I can get money in return for the ball.

by Double06 on Feb 19, 2009 11:05 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

And the team tried to get the ball from him.

He wanted compensation, and the team was hesitant to compensate him enough.

by Double06 on Feb 19, 2009 11:16 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

The team always tries to get the ball.

I gave Carlos Guillen his first career homer in exchange for a signed ball and bat. If you do not want something like that all you have to say is that you plan on keeping the ball.

by Sec 108 on Feb 19, 2009 11:17 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Isn't that what he did? I can't read the whole article without signing up and registering.

 I’m saying that if I were that guy, I’d hold out for an offer — from anyone — that would suit me. The team has first crack at it, but that doesn’t mean I can’t ask for money (or something worth money) and if they don’t want to give it to me, I’ll just keep my ball.

by Double06 on Feb 19, 2009 11:28 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Holy smokes - you caught Carlos Guillen's first career homer??

61/755: KGJ's homer totals, or Rosie O'Donnell's age/weight in 2019?

by kevin_ess on Feb 19, 2009 3:15 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Ppppfff.

I caught an Olmedo Saenz foul ball, which ricocheted off someone else’ hands, and landed in my lap.

by msb on Feb 19, 2009 3:46 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That's AWESOME. Do you still have the ball, or did you give it to him?

61/755: KGJ's homer totals, or Rosie O'Donnell's age/weight in 2019?

by kevin_ess on Feb 20, 2009 1:11 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I kept it.

there was no clear winner in the hands reaching for the ball, and literally, it landed in my lap. I called it at that point.

by msb on Feb 20, 2009 7:56 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

So easy solution...

…if this hasn’t been resolved yet, the dude should get tickets to Opening Day and deliver the ball to Griffey himself on the field before first pitch.

This signature space for rent.

by PositivePaul on Feb 19, 2009 1:07 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I doubt Griffey even cares any more.

Thanks for the story msb. I couldn’t remember how that all worked out.

by Sec 108 on Feb 20, 2009 8:07 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Subjunctive mood

You wish you were taller.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Feb 19, 2009 12:37 PM PST reply actions   2 recs

Wow
Well, I have caught a good number of homers over the years and the cool part is most of them have been Mariner players. Tino was my first but I also have an Edgar, Boone, Sexson, Roberto Kelly, Jose Offerman!, Paul Sorrento and Raul Ibanez just to name a few.

You really shouldn’t be complaining.

by vkut79 on Feb 19, 2009 6:47 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

I've had season tickets since 1994 when then turned the outfield from

General Admission to reserved seating. Before that in 1992 & 93 we went to around 60 games each year but we would just buy tickets day of game and sit in the outfield. Back then those seats were $4.50.

by Sec 108 on Feb 20, 2009 8:09 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

One of my main memories of the Kingdome

was that the 200 level was awesome. And so was sitting in the very back row of the 300 level.

by Mariner John on Feb 22, 2009 12:10 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

As long as we are telling Mariner stories, I have one of Henry Cotto.

It was late in the ’92 season… Arlington Stadium. I was 11 years old. My brother 10.

Cotto comes up as a pinch-hitter late in the game with one on. He belts it… deep left field out of the yard. Very few people were in those stands, but there’s a mad rush for the ball and my brother gets to it.

He has just snagged our first and only home-run ball. In our mad flurry of high-fives and fist pumps, the ball slips out of his hands, bounces off a seat and back onto the field.

Here’s Bret Boone coming to the plate and us holding up the damn ballgame by unintentionally throwing Henry Cotto’s home-run ball back onto the field.

Juan Gonzalez retrieves it and tosses it back towards our direction, when some idiot twice our age intercepts it.

My brother begins crying, literally screaming for the ball back. The guy hands it back even though you could tell he didn’t want to.

You watch too many movies Sax.

by oc on Feb 22, 2009 1:19 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

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