When there is a historic home run chase in MLB, each and every ball has monetary value, especially the one’s closest to the number that the hitter is trying to achieve.
As New York Yankees star Aaron Judge chases Roger Maris‘ single-season American League home run record of 61, every ball has value.
In some cases, the player wants to have them; while, on other occasions, the team wants to exhibit these balls in its museum.
In any case, it’s usual practice to have someone from the team negotiate with the fan who caught these balls in order to get them back.
Some of them agree to a trade, others prefer to keep it because they know they will be very valuable.
For Michael Kessler, a young college student who caught Judge’s 60th home run ball on Tuesday night, his priority was that Judge had the ball.
The Fan Wanted Judge To Have The Ball
It was his achievement, he said, and he is completely right.
“The fan who got Aaron Judge’s 60th home run ball wanted Judge to have it. A classy gesture,” SportsCenter tweeted.
The fan who got Aaron Judge's 60th home run ball wanted Judge to have it.
A classy gesture 👏
(📸 @JohnstoneJD) pic.twitter.com/xBhjh8Yv04
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 21, 2022
The team, in exchange, gave Kessler the chance to meet and greet Judge, four autographed baseballs, and a signed game bat, just not the one Judge used to hit the homer, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
It was a worthwhile trade for both parties, and Kessler got to meet the Yankees’ best player.
The team has recovered the 56th, 57th and 58th home run balls for Judge; but they were unable to negotiate for No. 59, hit on Sunday in Milwaukee against the Brewers.
Judge will resume his quest for history tonight, at Yankee Stadium.
NEXT: Chaos Ensued For Aaron Judge's 60th Home Run Ball