Being in the right place at the right time is about to put a lot of zeroes in one fan’s bank account.
Less than three weeks after it landed in the seats at Dodger Stadium, Albert Pujols’ 700th home run ball is heading to the open market.
Goldin Auctions said Thursday that it has received the milestone ball on consignment and would be offering it in an upcoming auction. The company has one of its Elite auctions of higher end memorabilia and cards scheduled to open October 28.
Pujols’ homer on September 23 in Los Angeles appeared to have been caught by a fan wearing a blue Dodgers jersey.
Fox Sports’ Ben Verlander reported that a friend at the ballpark told him the Cardinals tried to negotiate a deal to get it back but the fan opted to leave the park with it.
”Souvenirs are for the fans,” Pujols said after the game. “I don’t have any problem if they want to keep it. If they want to give it back, that’s great. But at the end of the day, I don’t focus on material stuff.”
In a video posted Thursday, a Goldin employee was shown opening the box containing the ball.
The ball is expected to sell for at least a six-figure price, although the final home run ball of Pujols career, #703, would likely fetch more.
Pujols stands fourth on the all-time home run list behind Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth, ending the 2022 regular season with 703.
Pujols’ 703rd and final homer was caught by a Cardinals fan who was hoping to do just that. He told Bally Sports Midwest that he turned down a $100,000 offer from another fan but was apparently unable to get the ball authenticated before leaving the park and the Cardinals only offered a Pujols signed ball in return.
The ball Aaron Judge hit to break Roger Maris’ single season American League home run record isn’t yet known. A Texas Rangers fan caught that ball at his seat just above the left field fence at Globe Life Field on October 4.
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