With all the milestones happening this past weekend, there's some money to be made if one was lucky enough to snag Barry Bonds' 775th homer ball or Alex Rodriguez's 500th. Well, a fellow named Walter "Sonny" Kowalczyk from New Jersey caught A-Rod's ball and it's looking like he probably won't be returning it."He doesn't want to be robbed. There's a lot of wild people out there in New York," his older brother Brian Kowalczyk, 31, told the Daily News. "He's going to lie low for a few days, and then he's going to surface with it."And later:
He claims Kowalczyk, 29, is already feeling squeezed by the Yankees, which he said hustled him into the bowels of Yankee Stadium and tried to get him to negotiate with a lawyer right away.
"The Yankees offered him a signed jersey, and he said no. The negotiations at Yankee Stadium were p--s-poor," Brian Kowalczyk said. "If A-Rod would have approached him, things would have been different."
"If he was doing well in life, he would give [the ball] to the Hall of Fame," Brian Kowalczyk said. "He spent all his money to have these Yankees season tickets. I was arguing with him for that. There's nothing I can say now."
This is a tough spot to be in. On the one hand, I could see wanting to give A-Rod the ball back if you're a fan of the team. But, you'd be giving up thousands upon thousands of dollars in the process. And well, if you're a student like Kowalczyk, that would be kind of dumb.
What I'd do? Get A-Rod, Bonds and Hank Aaron to sign the ball, then sell it David Wells for $500,000 and a keg of beer. I'm sure Wells would be game.
Previously At FanHouse:
David Wells Might Have the Greatest Sports Collectible Ever
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. A signed Arod Jersey for his 500th home run ball? Ha. I kind of feel bad for the guy. I'm sure he wishes he could give it to Arod but it sounds like he really needs the money. I don't blame him though. The Yankees will have to give him a much better offer than that to get the ball back!
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Posted at 2:59PM on Aug 6th 2007 by Max
2. A-Rod's got 252 million ways that he can get that ball back...If he wants it that bad he can open up that checkbook of his!
Posted at 3:13PM on Aug 6th 2007 by Paul
3. I like A-Rod but if he wants the ball he has to pay for it. The guy that caught it probally spent a week's pay to go to the game. A-Rod I bet if you offered one week of your pay to the guy he would take it.
Posted at 4:46PM on Aug 6th 2007 by atlfan42
4. let him make the best deal he can...and not forget that he won't be 29 forever so throw in health coverage for him and his family for life.
Posted at 6:49PM on Aug 6th 2007 by scott
5. Scott just made the most sense I have ever seen anyone make in any comment section on any blog I have ever read.
Posted at 11:52PM on Aug 6th 2007 by bizzo5000
6. Alex Rodriguez will get his 500th home run when the price is right. Come on down.
Posted at 1:37AM on Aug 7th 2007 by George B Vieto
7. I think either A-Rod or the Hall of Fame should have the ball on display. Of course, the guy isn't going to give it up for nothing but eventually it should be in the Hall of Fame along with other A-Rod stuff.
Posted at 7:23AM on Aug 7th 2007 by badgolfer78
8. I can understand that alex wants this ball but the offer to the man who caught it should not have been an insult with the amount alex makes.After the offer the yankees made for the ball it should go up for auction and if a-rod wants he could buy it.If it was not for the offer he got he should have been willing to talk to a-rod and see if somethig could have been worked out.
Posted at 12:35PM on Aug 7th 2007 by mark lucius
9. I like the idea of them just offering him 2008 season tickets for the ball. No way any fan would turn that down.
Posted at 1:27PM on Aug 7th 2007 by Andrew
10. OH PLEASE. A signed jersey? The Yankees are the richest organization in professional sports. How about an offer of free season tickets next season and a meeting with A-Rod for the ball? Sounds fair to me and the Yanks lose nothing in the end. The guy is sure to buy a few beers and dogs over the span of a season. Give him season tickets for one season, a signed jersey, and a meeting with A-ROD and call it a day. It is home run ball 500...not 600 or 700 or 800. It is an important ball...but not THAT important.
Posted at 1:43PM on Aug 7th 2007 by Doug
11. I'd tell A-Rod to wipe his ass with the jersey...
Posted at 5:08PM on Aug 7th 2007 by The U IS Dead
12. The Yankee's lowball offer of a team signed jersey is just ridiculous and a slap to his face and intelligence.
This really should be a non-issue. If Alex Rodriguez wants the 500 HR ball he should just offer him $50,000-$100,000 for it. That amount is chump change to Alex Rodriguez and would really help out the student who needs the money. So it would be a win-win for both sides.
Otherwise the guy should just put the ball up for auction on Sotheby's. He could at the very least get $50,000 for it, most likely must more $$$$$ with bidder's trying to outbid each other.
Posted at 5:35PM on Aug 7th 2007 by Jim
13. Why shouldnt the fan get as much money as he can for the ball? Dont the players, who are already making millions , charge the fans for autographs on balls(A-ROD does),jerseys ,etc basically soaking every dollar they can out of the fan. They opt out of contracts(A-ROD will) to maximize every dollar they can get. The fans are always being reminded by the players that its a business so why shouldnt he have that same approach.
Posted at 1:07AM on Aug 8th 2007 by Jammer
14. Negotiations for the Ball:
(1) $100,000;
(2) Season tickets to the Yanks (good seats);
(3) A 2 or 3-year high-priced contract working with Boras;
and
(4) a night on the town with A-Rod in Montreal at an establishment of his choosing.
**Priceless
Posted at 1:12AM on Aug 8th 2007 by Will
15. Negotiations for the ball:
1. $100K;
2. A 2 or 3-year high-priced contract working with Boras;
3. Season tix to the Yanks at the new stadium (good seats); AND
4. A night on the town with A-Rod in Montreal at an establishment of his choosing worthy of his impeccable taste in such places...and I promise not to tell the New York Post
Posted at 1:23AM on Aug 8th 2007 by Will