DETROIT – The first ball Ely Hydes ever got at a baseball game was a historic one Thursday afternoon.
Hydes, a Detroit Tigers fan, had just reached his seat at Comerica Park, when the Los Angeles Angels' Albert Pujols hit a long home run to left field, becoming the third player to notch 2,000 career RBI.
Hydes corralled the ball as it bounced and rolled between seats on the concrete ground to own a piece of history.
But despite generous efforts from the Tigers and Angels, Hydes decided to keep the baseball, though Major League Baseball would not authenticate the ball once he left the park with it.
Angels first baseman Albert Pujols celebrates after hitting a home run for his 2,000th RBI in the third inning against the Tigers. (Photo: Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports)
"I'm not in it for the money, I just came here for the beer and a game," Hydes said in an interview with Fox Sports Detroit during the game, a 13-0 loss for the Tigers.
Pujols said the fan "has the right to keep it."
Hydes wasn't happy with how ballpark security approached the situation.
Here's what happened:
What happens when the first ball you get as a fan happens to be a pretty big deal for the player who hit it? @IamTrevorT is on the case! #GreatGrabBudpic.twitter.com/1U7BCAUS50
A piece of @MLB history! Eli Hydes caught the @PujolsFive home run for his 2,000th MLB RBI…and a chance to meet Albert after the game. pic.twitter.com/ZsojT2HKsM
Eli Hyde, the guy who caught the ball said the people who surrounded him looking to acquire the ball said they would not authenticate it if he left the ball park with it rendering it worthless. Hyde was not happy with how the negotiators went about the conversation.
Pujols on the fan who caught it "I think he was giving a little a hard time and I told the guys just leave it, just let him have it. He can have a great piece of history with him, when he look at the ball he can remember himself of this game, I don't fight about it."
Pujols "I don't play this game so I can pay fans so they can give me, you know… He can have that piece of history, its for the fans that we play for too. He has the right to keep it, the ball went in the stands so I would never fight anybody to give anything back"
Albert Pujols on his 2000th RBI ball and if he would pay to get it back? pic.twitter.com/AzNsmwxwhX
Here’s #Tigers head of security making the final plea for the Albert Pujols ball.
In vain. pic.twitter.com/03ZcI7Ladi
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