8/12/09 @ Miller Park
I was watching BP from the crammed confines of Friday’s Front Row Bullpen patio.
As time rolled on, not one-not two-but three glove-trick opportunities presented themselves over the 1st 30 minutes.
That’s two more than usual for those that are scoring at home.
Subsequently, all three were reeled up and all three were given away to smaller Brewers fans.
NOTE: For those out there that say ballhawks take baseballs away from other people (kids, in particular), pay attention. Not only do most of us (ballhawks) give a good percentage of our baseballs away, but we also create opportunities that normally would not be there. For instance, take the glove-trick as an example. Those three baseballs would not have made it into the hands of those kids if not for the glove-trick. Those baseballs would have been picked up and tossed back in, only to end up back in the BP bucket for more use.
The guy pictured to the right is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.
He’s still considered a rookie.
He’s taken advantage of every opportunity.
He has a great attitude.
He treats the fans well.
AND
Most importantly, he’s a great Dad (click here).
His name??
CASEY McGEHEE
Casey ripped one onto the porch that almost hit a teenage girl.
PEOPLE!! You must pay attention. Unless, of course, you like huge welts, black eyes, a deformed face, a fat lip, missing teeth, dizziness, shortness of breath, recurring headaches, loss of hearing or eyesight and hospital/emergency rooms.
I know it’s cool to hang out at the ballpark and all, but, when baseballs are flying all over the place-look the **** out!!
Anyway, the ball went underneath that young girls’ seat. I picked it up on a small bounce and gave that one away, too.
In case you’re wondering…I didn’t give it to the clueless girl. I gave it to a nearby kid.
4 baseballs to 4 different kids. That took care of every kid that was seated in the patio section.
When the Padres came out, I managed to get these two pitchers to each toss me a baseball.
EDWARD MUJICA
Mujica was a tough customer. After I cracked a few jokes, made a few hand gestures and made it clear that I wasn’t going away…he finally tossed one to me.
That was it for BP.
As far as the game is concerned…
…”Big Ballhawk Mike” sat with us for the game.
I was fortunate enough to hear his Tim Naehring home run story for the 1000th time (unofficial count). If you ever run into “Big Mike,” ask him about it. He’d love to tell you.
Or, maybe just ask me when you see me…I’ve heard it a million times over. It’s almost as if I was there. But, I wasn’t. If I was, the Naehring homer would have been mine.
Cocky? Nah. Confident? Definitely.
Check out this close-up…
…of one sweet ketchup stain.
I warned “Big Mike” about the exploding ketchup pumps at the concession stands.
Did he listen??? Nooooooooo.
No homers hit during the game.
Final score:
Padres 6
Happy 6
Brewers 5
Damn…still can’t outscore the Padres!
The two baseballs I took home…
…career #’s 924 & 925.
2009 BALLHAWKING STATS
- 6 total balls 8/12/09
1 batted baseball
2 tossup baseballs
3 device baseballs
ATTENDANCE: 38,753
2009 TOTAL BASEBALLS
4/7/09 = 5 baseballs
4/8/09 = 10 baseballs
4/9/09 = 10 baseballs
4/10/09 = 3 baseballs
4/11/09 = 5 baseballs
4/12/09 = 5 baseballs
4/13/09 = 11 baseballs
4/14/09 = 6 baseballs
4/21/09 = 5 baseballs
4/27/09 = 15 baseballs
4/28/09 = 9 baseballs
4/30/09 = 4 baseballs
5/01/09 = 7 baseballs
5/02/09 = 4 baseballs
5/08/09 = 11 baseballs
5/09/09 = 1 lousy ball
5/12/09 = 14 baseballs
5/13/09 = 12 baseballs
5/19/09 = 8 baseballs
5/22/09 = 3 baseballs
5/23/09 = 2 baseballs
5/26/09 = 3 baseballs
5/29/09 = 6 baseballs
5/30/09 = 5 baseballs
6/01/09 = 1 baseball
6/02/09 = 9 baseballs
6/09/09 = 4 baseballs
6/10/09 = 0 baseballs
6/11/09 = 2 baseballs
6/12/09 = 9 baseballs
6/23/09 = 6 baseballs
6/24/09 = 9 baseballs
6/26/09 = 9 baseballs
6/27/09 = 4 baseballs
6/29/09 = 3 baseballs
6/30/09 = 5 baseballs
7/07/09 = 6 baseballs
7/10/09 = 3 baseballs
7/20/09 = 7 baseballs
7/24/09 = 6 baseballs
7/27/09 = 8 baseballs
7/29/09 = 3 baseballs
8/04/09 = 4 baseballs
8/11/09 = 7 baseballs
8/12/09 = 6 baseballs
___________________
275 baseballs (45 games)
6.11 average per game
CHECK THIS OUT!!
A few people told me I was in a picture that’s framed and hanging on the wall in the concourse down the right field line.
Sure enough…
…that’s me!
The picture was taken during the celebration after the Brewers clinched the Wild Card.
Cool stuff.
The Happy Youngster...Brew Town's Ballhawk 
Nice job giving those balls away! That photo of you high-fivin Fielder is SWEET! Hopefully you get another shot at that this year.
Brian
http://txbaseballfan.mlblogs.com
That’s so cool how you’re in a pic that is actually in the stadium. And I think it’s nice that you give away some of your balls to kids. I always end up giving mine away to my little brother and his friends when I catch them. But I do keep a few if I ever catch them.
-Dillon
http://dillonm.mlblogs.com
Check out this clip:
http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090817&content_id=6467198&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex
I posted this on your previous entry by mistake
Brian
http://txbaseballfan.mlblogs.com
Hey Nick (Happy),
It’s weird to me to call you happy, all i’d be able to think of is Happy Gilmore. Anyway, it was really truly great meeting you in Chicago the other day! I definitely hope to run into you again in the near future. Can’t wait to read you blog entry from the game. Let me know your upcoming plans again, I’ll see if I can coincide any of mine as well.
Ben
BRIAN…
The only celebration I’ll be seeing this season at Miller Park is the Phillies clinching the division in late September when they come to visit.
DILLON…
Gotta keep a few!
BRIAN…
Awesome article-how cool is that?!
BEN…
It was great to meet you, too! I have a hunch we’ll cross paths real soon.
“Happy”