He’s got balls

By Christian Bouchard

Some people have all the luck in the world, but a little skill helps too.

Catching a baseball at a MLB game is something many people dream of their entire lives. However, more often than not, whether their team wins or loses, fans will walk out of the stadium empty handed.

What are the odds of catching a ball at a game? Here’s the math: In an average MLB game, 30 balls enter the stands with an average attendance of 30,000. Therefore, the odds of catching one ball are 30,000 fans divided by 30 balls, which is 1 in 1,000.

But in a single game in 2011, one fan at a Cincinnati Reds game at Great American Ball Park snagged a total of 36 baseballs – a once in several lifetime’s achievement.

The odds of that happening are 1 in 9 trillion. That’s 12 zeros, for those wondering.

Including batting practice, Zack Hample has caught more than 8,500 baseballs in his lifetime. Still, the 38-year-old said it took time before catching his first one.

“I was first motivated to catch a ball by seeing people doing it on TV,” said Hample. “I went to games for six years before I finally got my hands on one. Ever since then, I’ve developed a lot of tricks and strategies to increase my chances.”

The tricks and strategies have proven to work over the years. Hample finished the 2015 MLB season having caught at least one ball in 1,166 consecutive games.

“I think it’s a crazy feat and probably one that won’t ever be repeated,” said Tristan Bouchat, a pitcher for the Tecumseh Thunder and St. Clair Saints. “Some people have season tickets their entire life and would be lucky to catch a handful of balls.”

Dereck Matte, a baseball fan his entire life, said Hample’s talents are amazing.

“Catching a baseball comes with practice,” said Matte, 19. “For a fan in the stands, you must be attentive and have to fight against other people wanting the same baseball.”

Hample estimates he’s been attending around 90 games per season while spending upwards of $100,000 on games in his lifetime.  He’s been to more than 50 different ballparks, catching a ball in each. In the end, the goal is to reach the 10,000 baseballs and the 100 home run baseball plateau.

Although Hample spent much of his time chasing after foul balls, his life changed forever on June 19, 2015 when he caught a home run ball off the bat of Alex Rodriguez.

The home run was Rodriguez’ 3,000^th career hit – a milestone only 29 players have reached in the history of the game.

“I’m always happy when I snag any ball,” said Hample. “But when I catch a home run during the game, it’s absolutely exhilarating. I get a major rush even after all these years. That’s what keeps me going back for more.”

Catching that ball meant more than any of the other 8,632 balls he has ever caught. However, he never expected the backlash he would get for deciding to keep the souvenir. For many fans, the 3,000^th career hit ball should have been returned to Rodriguez.

After months, Hample still had fans heckling him, calling him names, screaming sexual and derogatory slurs as well as even physically assaulting him.

On top of receiving so much hate for catching the ball, Hample said it has since made his favourite hobby even harder to do because of the increased popularity.

“It’s now impossible for me to attend a game and keep to myself,” said Hample. “It’s flattering and I don’t mean to complain and I try to be patient and friendly with everyone, but I do now face some added challenges.”

Despite all the hate in response to his decision to keep the baseball, after a two week holdout, Hample decided to sell the ball back to the New York Yankees for $150,000. All the money was donated to his favourite charity, Pitch In For Baseball.

Wanting to share his talents and tricks with the world, Hample is also the proud author of several books including How To Snag Major League Baseballs. The book was written after Hample’s freshman year at college, when his summer job had fallen through.

Among some of the tips shared in the book, Hample said most noticeably the best advice he can give to an amateur who wants to catch a baseball at an MLB game is mobility.

“It’s all about lateral mobility,” said Hample. “Don’t get trapped in the middle of a long row. Make sure you have room to run. And duh, bring a glove.”

Preparation is another vital weapon for catching baseballs, according to Hample.  Although there are only so many languages spoken in the MLB, Hample can ask for a baseball in 36 different languages.

While ball hawking is one of his favourite hobbies, he has also gone to some extreme measures to receive baseballs.

After a game in Kansas City in 2009, Hample hid inside Kaufman Stadium until all the security guards had left.

“I climbed down into an area behind the centre field wall where there were a bunch of baseballs,” said Hample. “The way I see it, I did the Royals a favour by preventing them from sending one of their employees down in there. That employee might have gotten hurt and sued them, but I removed the baseballs free of charge without incident.”

Hample also holds the world record for the highest elevation a baseball has ever been caught from. On July 13, 2013, he caught a baseball dropped from a helicopter at 1,000 feet in the air at Edward A. LeLacheur Park.

Beel Veeck is often remembered for his famous quote “There are only two seasons – winter and Baseball.” For Zack Hample, winter means he eats better, exercises more and is more active on social media. He goes out on dates, catches up with friends and pursues other hobbies. Contrary to popular belief, winter is Hample’s favourite time of the year.

“My favourite time of the year is when there’s no baseball,” said Hample. “No one understands that or believes me, but it’s true. If the offseason could last three years, that would be ideal – even just once.”