Yes, it's true. Giants fans, who have loved Barry Bonds unconditionally for so many years, and who have sunk so much time and money into rooting for him and buying tickets to see him play, were all wondering what they would do if they caught Bonds' record breaking home run. Would they keep it? Give it to the Hall of Fame? Trade it for an autographed jersey? Sell it and put a down payment on a house?Imagine how Giants fans must have felt when the fan who actually did catch the ball emerged from the crowd wearing ... a Mets jersey and a Mets undershirt.
In the middle of it all was 22-year-old New Yorker Matt Murphy, who emerged from beneath the pile holding the ball Bonds hit for career home run No. 756. His face was bloodied and his clothes stretched and torn from his battle in the bleachers. A team of San Francisco police officers moved in, extracted Murphy from the crowd, and quickly led him through a tunnel and into a secure room.Which brings about a very important question: How in the world was this game not sold out just before the game? A Giants home game with Hank Aaron's record on the line? I, for one, am astonished.As he high-fived other fans, Murphy, wearing a New York Mets jersey and cap, slid the ball into the back pocket of his plaid Bermuda shorts.
Reporters screamed out questions, but all he managed to say was, "I'm Matt Murphy from Queens, N.Y." Murphy and a friend were en route to Australia and in San Francisco for a one-day layover, a Giants spokesman said. They purchased tickets just before the game.
Baseball memorabilia experts have pegged the ball's value at $400,000 to $500,000. That's well below the $3 million fetched by the ball Mark McGwire hit to break Roger Maris' single-season home run record in 1998, but still a hefty sum.And probably enough to pay for a trip to Australia. (And in a good point provided by the first comment, enough to pay for what he may have given a scalper for that ticket.)Sorry, No Photos
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
8-08-2007 @ 2:19AM
Dave said...
I'm sure it was sold out. The kid probably bought off of a scalper. Anyways this is a sad day for baseball. Hank Aaron is still the home run king.
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8-08-2007 @ 2:34AM
Nicko said...
Barry Bonds is now the true home run king t doesnt matter if he's taken steroids or not, probably half the pitchers he hit homeruns off of were on steroids, so Barry Bonds is the true homerun king and it is not a sad day for baseball
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8-08-2007 @ 2:41AM
cynthia ann reeves said...
Congratulations to Barry Bonds and his family and always remember that "to God be the glory". Enjoy your accomplisments and ignore the haters.
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8-08-2007 @ 2:51AM
chuck said...
Fraud. Jerk. Bully. Asterik. Thank God its OVER with!!!! Please Arod, save us from this stain and shame on the game.
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8-08-2007 @ 3:13AM
ken said...
Hey they never caught him with anything so as i recalled innocent until proven other wise also hit hit a lot before everyone claims he used steriods well he still has to swing that bat and hit the ball what ever everyone claims he used ( with no proof 100% ) he still needs hand eye to hit the ball it is his record and his alone congrats but whatch your back AROD will be comming thru if he stays healthy and i hate him cry baby , cheater ( not with roids but some accuse him also ) slapping ball from a red sox pitcher during there choke series in 2004 playoff's , yelling at the third baseman , cheats on wife with sluts, dancers , but you can not take both are hell of a ball players
this is my opinion as everyone else has there's
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8-08-2007 @ 3:47AM
chef4hire2001 said...
Haters Galore! Barry Bonds hit homers as did hammering Hank. Why are some of you denying Barry his props? Hmmmmmmmmmmm....................maybe you have been drinkimg "Haterade". I remember when Hank Aaron was closing in on the Babe how there were death threats on Hank. Just for hitting home runs! I think it was simply a case of racism and wanting to keep the myth (lie)of white supremacy alive. Babe was a helluva man off the field as well as on the field. You have to stay focused on the fact
that it is just a baseball game. Catch 22 for Bonds. He is the undisputed homerun king! I admire all of the power hitters of all time.The man has beeen simply accused. So what! Imagine if your judgemental butts were on the chopping block just for being accused. How can you convict a man that hasn't been charged? I think the real deal is that this big strong in your face black man is showing you that he is the man! You ain't posed to do dat boy. Lol, I love all the hatters as well as the congratulators! As Hammer (Seanley Burrel) said " dunh, dunh, dunh..... dunh, dunh, dunt, Can't Touch This!" LMAO!!! I also want to ask a question. Why isn't Mark Mcguire in the Hall of Fame?
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8-08-2007 @ 4:18AM
eddie said...
barry bonds is the greatest baseball player in my era.i am 38 years old from brooklyn {yankee fan]. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO INNOCENT TILL PROVEN GUILTY. why is the world putting this record holder down. everybody is assuming he is on steroids where is the proof? bottom line there is none. he is a homerun hitting machine since the day he first stepped on the diamond. come to think of it aaron as well as mantle in their rookie years were pretty small compared to when they retired nobody thinks they were on "the juice". i dare anyone of you negative people to go to your neighborhood park and try to hit a ball as far as bonds can. thats a talent you all wish you had. what you fail to understand is bonds was born with a silver bat in his hand. is father and godfather are 2 of the best players in the sport. teaching him everything he knows. there is nothing illegal about that. so all you couch potato's give americas newest homerun king the credit he deserves.
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8-08-2007 @ 4:36AM
dave said...
its not innocent until proven guilty Its guilty untill proven innocent *ive been to court a few times i know* and i stand by what hank said "i broke the home run record on hot dogs" look at pics of barry bonds like 5-8 years go hes super tiny and all the sudden like 50 lbs of muscle just drop on him? hummm...ya i think he was clean too...*sarcasum* and if steriods are this big of a prob why dont they test before every game??
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8-08-2007 @ 5:35AM
ALMYTEDIC said...
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW HOMERUN KING BARRY BONDS.NO one does it better.BARRY SHOOK UP THE WORLD!!LOL LMAO!
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8-08-2007 @ 5:36AM
ALMYTEDIC said...
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW HOMERUN KING BARRY BONDS.NO one does it better.BARRY SHOOK UP THE WORLD!!LOL LMAO!
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8-08-2007 @ 5:37AM
ALMYTEDIC said...
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW HOMERUN KING BARRY BONDS.NO one does it better.BARRY SHOOK UP THE WORLD!!LOL LMAO!
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8-08-2007 @ 7:00AM
Jack said...
Sad day for baseball. Hank Aaron will forever be the homerun king. Hank was/still is one of the classiest persons on the face of the earth. Hank did everything with style, finese. There will never be any questions regarding the validity of his achievement(s).
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8-08-2007 @ 7:10AM
Kittie said...
Hank Aaron= true athlete with class. Barry Bonds= drug infested juicer. All of the world knows the real truth... that Bonds didn't accomplish jack with # 756. Why do you think his "ball" isn't worth that much? Throw the juicers where they belong... OUT of sports.
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8-08-2007 @ 7:19AM
bushiec said...
Congrats to Mr. Barry Bonds, the TRUE KING OF BASEBALL! I'm just glad he doesn't play for the yankees!
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8-08-2007 @ 8:43AM
DAVE said...
The Barry Bonds legacy is not over. Wait till he dies from complications from using steroids all those years. Then the truth will be known.
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8-08-2007 @ 9:06AM
Bob said...
I am sure Lyle Alzado is proud..............
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8-08-2007 @ 9:13AM
newyorkbratt said...
Come on guys, give credit where credit is due! The guy is amazing! Relax, enjoy baseball, and let the man have his day. Sounds to me like a ton of envy there boys! Congrats Barry on a job well done. REAL baseball fans applaud you!
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8-08-2007 @ 9:19AM
newyorkbratt said...
P.S. to that one, Also a Mets fan, good going guy!
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8-08-2007 @ 9:59AM
Jordi Scrubbings said...
I'm sure Matt Murphy can buy a lot of guitars now.
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8-08-2007 @ 10:13AM
Max Martin said...
Let's be fair about this feat. Several sports figures have been accused of drug use in the past, Lance Armstrong for one. There is no proof on him or Barry Bonds. Let him have his day and forget about all the hate! Just because a player doesn't kiss up to his fans and the sports media, doesn' mean he's not a professional who loves the sport.
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