Derek Jeter Milestone...what would you do?
 

New York Yankee legend Derek Jeter's milestone 3,000th hit was a homerun blast to the left field bleachers in the New Yankeee Stadium on Saturday.

The ball was caught by a 23-year-old recent college graduate, and returned to Jeter in exchange for a clubhouse meeting, a handshake and some autographed memorablia. Memorabilia experts expect the ball would have gone for between $200,000 and $250,000 on the open market.

Would would you have done? Given the ball back at all, under similar circumstances, kept it or sold it on the open market?

I keep the ball. it's not often you can catch a ball that had significant meaning.

I guess it depends on if you are a fan or not. I'm not, so I would have kept it! Screw the Yankees!!:p

I have a friend I used to work with who caught Dustin Pedroia's first home run as a Red Sox...at home. He gave the ball back but has a signed ball, a picture with Pedroia and all his friends from that day that is on his home screen of his computer and various other items that they gave him for handing the ball over. My friend is a huge Boston fan so he didn't even think twice. Pedroia has gone on to be a great player, and I'm sure that ball could have fetched a pretty penny.

I'm probably in the minority, but I would give it back without a thought. Yes, they make millions, and yes, some are completely out of touch with us fans. However, a career milestone such as that belongs to the player, IMHO. It totally sucks for the players that the piece of memorabilia that represents reaching the heights of their professions instantly becomes the possesion of strangers. None of the rest of us have to deal with that. Maybe I am just a sucker for nostalgia, though.

Anyway, yes, I know that it can be an instant financial windfall, but like the fan on Saturday I feel the rightful owner is the one who hit it into the seats.

/HugeBaseballFan

It would be SOOOO hard to tell him no, but hell to the no, I'm not giving him back his ball. I would have been on the horn with a memorabilia broker from my seat in the stadium. If Jeter wants the ball, he can buy it from the broker. He can afford it!

On the other hand, I can see myself being all magnanimous in the moment and then wanting to kill myself later for the stupid mistake. Note to self, should the moment ever arise: No freebies to gazillionaires!

Well, for me it depends on if I'm a fan or not. I hate the Yankees, so hell yes I would have sold Jeter's ball if I caught it. On the other hand, had it been an Indian ... I would have negotiated soemthing similar.

Not an issue for me -- I would never be at a Yankees game. :p

I can't imagine telling a player NO. LOL.

I can even imagine getting death threats under the title "Justice for Jeter!"

Co-sign!

I'm an Orioles fan, so I've been at many Yankees games.

OH, all you haters! Derek Jeter is an upstanding member of the MLB franchise and a true gem in the Yankee organization. Whether you like the Yankees or not, it's hard to contest Derek's community service and behavior as a positive role model. Way to go Derek! Will you marry me????

He's undoubtably a good guy...but he's still a Yankee. Go O's!

^^^ Wants to catch his ball. :p

Usually, you want to play the ball out front of you, and not in your mouth. She (or he) was apparently not taught the game well as a child.

I think I would keep the ball. Jeter can have his 4,000th later down the road. Meanwhile I be bankinnn :cool: