I’m a lifelong Yankee fan and can give a rat’s tail what happens to the Red Sox and their World Series memorabilia. But when their backup 1st Baseman decides that he’s going to keep the World Series winning ball, I draw the line. Listen buddy, you just happened to be the last guy who touched the ball because you came in as a defensive replacement for Ortiz. You weren’t that important to the team. Basically, any 1st Baseman currently in the Majors or Minors could’ve been in your spot, and Red Sox would’ve still won the Series. Give the ball back. Plus, it’s not like its such a romantic object to him. He admits that he just wants to keep it because of its monetary value.
The reason that this is in GD is that I’m sure that someone will argue otherwise.
I guess there is no chance that the ball means anything to Doug (even though I’m in MPLS, I’m not spelling that last name), right? Its pure selfishness, right?
Perhaps it is, I don’t know. But then, you don’t either. Cut the guy some slack. Its not like other major leaguers never dream of catching the final out of the World Series.
It would be a nice gesture, but an expensive one. He does have precedent on his side. Link
Blame the insane sports memorabilia market and its participants for being willing to pay 6 and 7 figures for a damn ball, 2 and 3 figures just for a frickin’ autograph. If there weren’t a market, Mientkewicz wouldn’t be sitting on a million bucks, and I don’t blame him. Sure, all he did was catch it, but that’s all the yobbos who got rich off Bonds’ and McGwire’s homers did, too - and Mientkewicz’ catch counted.
Let the team buy it, or have a rich bandwagon fan buy it for them. And screw the collectors.
So last SEASON, he made enough for 119 years of education at FSU. And he’s an 8 year veteran (though not at that salary all 8 years, you can assume he made more than the average person).
I don’t understand why he’s a douchebag for wanting to keep something that belongs to him. It’s his. That’s the way it works; if you keep the ball after the game it belongs to you. I know of no precedent for teams demanding to take game balls for World Series wins; Mike Timlin still has the game ball from the 1992 World Series.
Why is he a jerk for keeping what’s his? If it’s so important to the Red Sox they should pay him for it. I don’t expect anyone to just give me their stuff for nothing, why should Larry Lucchino expect it? So he makes more money than you - so what?
I guess that I disagree with the premise that the ball belongs to him. Perhaps legally it does, although I’m not sure why. He was doing his job. If I find something of value where I work, I can’t simply take it home with me. What if in the celebration, the ball came loose and a Red Sox batboy picked it up? Would he get to keep the ball? How about a Cardinals bat boy?
You know, I’d have less problem with the bat boy keeping it. Some kid might need the help to pay for college. When you’re getting paid 2.8 million a year, though, it seems sleazy to try and profiteer off the ball. I see it more as the results of a “work for hire” sort of deal, where he may have caught the ball, but it belongs to the team.
If it’s legally his, great, but I think a bigger man would let it go.
Well, it originally was purchased by MLB, and they say it’s his. So it’s his.
Again, I have to ask why, if it’s so important to the Red Sox to have it, they aren’t willing to pay what it’s worth? Why would the world be better if the Red Sox had that million dollars, and not Doug Mientkiewicz?
Except that Mr. Mientkiewicz is an employee of the Boston Red Sox, and acquired the ball by reason of and within the scope of his employment. MLB may be content to relinquish its ownership of the ball, but that certainly does not resolve the issue of the employee’s legal obligations to his employer.
Well, what’s precedent on this? As I recall, MLB has traditionally taken the stance of “You catch it, you keep it.” It’s as true for the fans as it is for the players… if you recall the furor of a similar sort over a third baseman or something and the ball that broke… I don’t remember. Someone’s streak a year ago. Clemens’?
As I said above, that’s all fine and dandy for MLB, but Mientkiewicz is an employee of the Boston Red Sox, who have a strong legal claim to the fruits of his employment.
Except that the precedents are in his favor, according to the story I linked.
FWIW, the Sox have agreed with Mientkewicz and Kevin Millar that one of them will be traded so the other can play 1B full time next year, but no such deal has been made. It would be, um, unfortunate if Mientkewicz were to make this fine gesture toward Boston’s fans only to find himself a Toronto Blue Jay next Opening Day, when the rings are handed out. If they trade Rally Karaoke Guy instead, and give Mientkewicz a nice contract extension too (with perhaps an extra mil tossed in?), there might be some different attitudes all around.
FTR, balls are supplied by MLB, not the home team, so no monkeyshines take place. The lightly-abrasive mud used to take the shine off the surface (a pre-game umpire’s job) is also supplied by MLB.
Except that the precedents you cite are inapplicable, as they refer to ownership between MLB and the player/umpire/fan, not as between the player and his employer.