More than two years after it reached the hands of a young fan, the ball Alex Rodriguez sent into the stands of old Yankee Stadium for his biggest milestone homer is set to be sold.
The ball smashed by Alex Rodriguez for his 500th career home run will hit the auction block next month. SCP Auctions has announced that the fan who caught the ball in 2007 has consigned it to the company’s internet auction that closes February 4th.
The home run off Kansas City Royals’ pitcher Kyle Davies made Rodriguez the youngest player in major league history to hit 500 home runs and the 22nd player to reach one of baseball’s most revered milestones.
ARod stepped to the plate on a sunny August afternoon in the Bronx before a Yankee Stadium crowd eager to witness history. An anxiety filled eight day, 28 at-bat homerless drought since homer no. 499 was recorded weighed heavily upon him. The weight was lifted in a flash when Rodriguez slugged the first pitch he saw from Davies into the left-field seats for a three-run homer. The ball fell into a pack of frenzied Yankees fans where it was recovered by a New York area college student.
"I really want it back," Rodriguez said at the time. "But if not, I congratulate him for catching it. Nice catch."
The ball has been authenticated and affixed with a numbered hologram by MLB officials. The batting helmet worn by Rodriguez that day was sent to the Hall of Fame.
The fan who caught the historic orb has kept it since that day and recently chose SCP Auctions to sell the ball on his behalf. In 2007, SCP sold Barry Bonds’ record-breaking 756th home run ball for $752,467, and Bonds’ record-tying 755 home run ball for $186,750. Given the prolific rate at which Rodriguez has continued to hit home runs, his 500th clout will likely become a more significant milestone should he reach the ultimate destination of breaking Bonds’ all-time record.
Rodriguez became the third player to hit 500 as a Yankee and the second to do it in Yankee Stadium. Babe Ruth did it at Cleveland on Aug. 11, 1929, and Mickey Mantle reached the mark at home against Baltimore on May 14, 1967.
Bidding for the ARod 500 baseball, as well as more than 700 other lots of sports memorabilia and cards will begin online at scpauctions.com on January 20th. For more information, or to order a full-color catalogue, call 800-350-2273 or go to scpauctions.com.
Related: ARod Wants 500th HR Ball; Fan Pondering (8/5/07)
Game Used Baseball Items on eBay
Related Stories:
