Story here.

I was always flabbergasted by Doug M.'s selfishness. Looks like it has resulted in a legal battle. No surprise there, I guess.


[Thread title modified for typo - Outsports moderator]

[ December 01, 2005, 06:13 PM: Message edited by: m1 ]

He only played for Boston for a couple of months. He's got no real connection other than that he happened to be on the field for the final pitch. The ball should go to the Red Sox, or at least to Cooperstown. What a creep.

so what's the cut off amount of time one must spend with a team before he can keep the winning ball? a year? 5 years?

The winning ball has traditionally been kept by the player. Mientkiewicz got it thanks to the BoSox paying him to wear their uniform. Let him keep it.

Sorry, but I'm with Joe on this one. Had the ball been hit into the stands, where its ownership would be more obvious in a sense, that's one thing; but here, he was a player for the Red Sox. Did he purchase the ball beforehand, like he might hos own personal mitt or bat? The ball belongs to the property of MLB first, since it was a World Series ball, and through them it belongs to the Red Sox.

He's a selfish creep, as JIP said.

I've never heard of this tradition. Actually, I've never heard this issue come up before, for all the teams that have won a World Series over the years. I can't recall ever reading anything about, for example, the ball thrown by Tug McGraw to strike out Willie Wilson for the final out in 1980.

Another wrinkle to consider: since the final out of that particular World Series took place in St. Louis, could the Cardinals claim that the ball actually belongs to them?

Who got the ball that allowed the D'Backs to win their first ever World Series? A player? A fan? The D'Backs?

I say whoever winds up with the ball gets ownership. Doug Mientkiewicz should hold onto it....until the Red Sox pony up some cash to buy it from him.

~Adam

doug is a jerk. he doesn't own the friggin' ball.

I had forgotten about that. Just for the heck of it, I searched around posts by Ump here to see if he had mentioned anything about baseballs. I didn't find anything specific, but it seems that the balls are provided by someone to the umpires. Since the balls used are "official World Series baseballs," I wonder if there's anything different as to who provided them.

Regardless, it's not Doug's ball.

My opinion on this is weird...but it basicallly echo's JIP. I've always thought that since it was him who caught it (being on the team for only 2 mos) he should not have the right to it, it should belong to the team. However, (and this is the weird part) If it had been Varitek, Nixon, Wakefield, Mueller, Millar, Schilling, or anyone else who has put in a good amount of time (more so Tek, Nixon, and Wake) then that player has the right to keep it. Except Manny though, I hate him. LOL

It is a child's dream to play ball and work your ass off to get to a place were you are put in a position to catch the out that won the world series for the Bo Sox. Talk about a dream come true for anyone who loves baseball. I saw his face when they won, he was happy about the win, to be a part of something so big. If he missed it or dropped it he would be living the Buckner Life. Let the man have the damn ball. The ball I would want is the ball that Ortiz hit to beat the Yankee's back in Fenway. Let the man have something he was furtunate to be apart of he just didn't appear on first base from thin air. I don't begin to think or understand what the behind the scenes stuff is like and I am sure it is blown out of proportion but hey he was working for the Red Sox, did his job and he is a part of one of the best stories in Baseball ever. Man I would hold on to that ball if I was given the chance. Doesn't mean he has to keep it in his sock draw though!! Let Boston display it, keep it for the future but retain ownership. Don't you think there are 100's of little boys dreaming of that chance everyday.

There is "but" to this: If I see it going for Auction in a few years, my opinion changes!!!!

[ December 09, 2005, 05:00 AM: Message edited by: Jamesy ]

It was also every member of Red Sox Nation's dream to see their team win in at all after 86 years of heartache. And for someone to come in for 4 minutes, catch the ball and then say "No! You can't have it!" Didn't sit to well in Boston.

The ball belongs in ONE place, and that's Fenway Park. End of Story.