Livan Hernandez threw his glove, a hat, and a windshirt into the stands just about the Nats dugout after he was pulled from the game tonight. I could see on TV that a woman caught the hat so I tried to call a friend who was sitting within a few rows of her to get him to offer to purchase it on my behalf. This guy, who is usually wired for 24/7 contact, left his cell phone in the car and didn't get my messages until after the game.

Apparently, Hernandez soon regreted tossing his glove away and officials for the team asked the fan who caught it to give it back. They offered him a glove of another player (not sure whether it was used or whose glove it was), but my buddy says the guy's girlfriend was advising him to hold out for more. This discussion turned out to be very involved and lasted a half an inning, I'm told. Not sure how it ended up.

Here's my question: Has anyone here offered a fan at a game cash for an item that was thrown into the stands or handed to them by a player? How did it go? How much cash? Would you handle it differently in the future?

That's an interesting question. I was in Toronto two years ago when Indians starter Cliff Lee chucked his glove into the stands after being pulled in the third inning after giving up five runs.

I looked for the fan but the usher wouldn't let me near his section without a ticket and once I managed to sneak over the distracted usher and I couldn't find the fan.

I was all set to offer him $300 Canadian and perhaps trade the items in for some Victor Martinez memorabilia.

I wonder what the policy is as far as giving back "gifts" that upset players throw in the stands.

DJ

I was at the July 30th Dodger game when Kent hit his 19th HR and I offered the guy 80.00 for it and he wouldn't budge because it was the first ball he had ever caught. Kent's headed to the HOF and wanted the ball as a keeper as he's my favorite player. Oh well.

I was at Reggie Jackson's last game ever at Fenway Park. After the game he threw his cap into the crowd, and I missed it by two inches. Not knowing what it may or may not be worth, I offered the guy who caught it $300.00, which for a 18 year old kid was a pretty rich price for me to offer, but he declined.

Jerk was just a little taller than me or I would have caught it. My bad, I shouldn't have smoked in high school, it cost me Reggie's cap!



Joel Alpert
TRS Enterprises
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That would make for one interesting anti-smoking commercial!

In 1985, I was at an Old Timer's game in Orlando, FL. Tim Raines was watching a few rows behind me. I offered him $80 for his Expos jacket he was wearing. He looked at me like I was "smoking"...he said it was his mother's jacket and declined my offer.

I'm sure if you would have offered Mr. Raines some coke, he would have been happy to give up his mom's jacket.

It was not quite game used, but I bought a Fred Brown, who gave away the '82 national championship, practice jersey his son was wearing at a Hoya game for $20.

My son goes to Scott Bullett's winter baseball camp here in Canada during the winter. Scott is a former major leaguer with the Cubs and Pirates as well as in Japan and Mexico. One day he comes out with one of his Japanese "Dragons" jerseys on. I went up to him and said that I loved that jersey and that I collect "gamers" and offered to buy it from him. He said he had so many in his closet he would just give it to me. The following week at the end of the training session he ran out to his vehicle and tossed me his jersey. Class act from a class guy!
If you guys ever come across one of his jerseys LMK! I'd love to get it!

Mikehttp://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1123355076.JPG

That is an awesome story! I knew Scott when he played for the Rochester Red Wings and was always a class act. Congratulations!

DJ