# Is Doug Mientkiewicz Being a Selfish Jerk? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 7, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636 "2005-01-07T20:22:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/1 "2005-01-07T20:22:12Z")
[http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/redsox/2005-01-07-mientkiewicz\_x.htm](http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/redsox/2005-01-07-mientkiewicz_x.htm) 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. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/2 "2005-01-07T20:24:49Z")
Asshole. ---
**Author:** ![cj\_finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@cj\_finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cj_finn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/3 "2005-01-07T20:25:57Z")
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. CJ > [@Jackknifed Juggernaut](#): > > [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/redsox/2005-01-07-mientkiewicz\_x.htm](http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/redsox/2005-01-07-mientkiewicz_x.htm) > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/4 "2005-01-07T20:26:11Z")
To clarify: Mientkiewicz, not the OP. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/5 "2005-01-07T20:41:08Z")
It would be a nice gesture, but an expensive one. He does have precedent on his side. [Link](http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/01/07/for_now_hes_having_a_ball/) > [@](#): > > Some $highball $hardball $history: The ball that skipped between the legs of Bill Buckner in 1986 was picked up by umpire Ed Montague, who gave it to Mets traveling secretary Arthur Richman (now with the Yankees). Richman auctioned that ball in 1992 and actor Charlie Sheen bought it for $93,500. In 1999, former Reds left fielder George Foster came forward with the ball that Carlton Fisk clanged off the foul pole in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. The Fisk ball fetched $113,273. A collector paid a half million for Eddie Murray’s 500th home run ball and a couple of Giants fans went to court after wrestling for Barry Bonds’s 73d home run ball, which sold for $450,000. The most expensive baseball of all time is still Mark McGwire’s 70th homer, which went for $3 million. > … > Carmine Tiso, spokesman for MLB, said, “Doug Mientkiewicz owns the baseball and we authenticated it. Anything beyond that would be between the Red Sox and Doug Mientkiewicz.” 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. ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/6 "2005-01-07T20:45:15Z")
Mientkiewicz made $2.8 million last year. That’s $17,284 per game, not that he played in all 162 or anything. Out of state tuition at FSU is [$23,477](http://www.fsu.edu/prospective/undergraduate/finances/costs.shtml) per year. 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). Translation: He’s a douchebag. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/7 "2005-01-07T21:30:29Z")
> [@jk1245](#): > > Translation: He’s a douchebag. 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? ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/8 "2005-01-07T21:45:35Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![maniondl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@maniondl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maniondl)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/9 "2005-01-07T21:55:50Z")
> [@Jackknifed Juggernaut](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/10 "2005-01-07T22:11:58Z")
Is the ball _legally_ his? I would have thought that the legal owner would be the entity that purchased the ball - or am I over-simplifying the law? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/11 "2005-01-07T22:53:04Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > Is the ball _legally_ his? I would have thought that the legal owner would be the entity that purchased the ball - or am I over-simplifying the law? 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? ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/12 "2005-01-07T23:09:02Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, it originally was purchased by MLB, and they say it’s his. So it’s his. 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. Also, he’s being a douchebag. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/13 "2005-01-07T23:13:18Z")
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’? ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/14 "2005-01-07T23:50:27Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, it originally was purchased by MLB, and they say it’s his. So it’s his. So this means the game balls are purchased and supplied directly by MLB (as opposed to the home team)? ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/15 "2005-01-08T01:11:36Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > 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… 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. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/16 "2005-01-08T01:25:02Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/17 "2005-01-08T01:27:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/18 "2005-01-08T02:41:45Z")
To those who blast him for doing it. What would you do if you had the ball? ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/19 "2005-01-08T03:09:40Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Except that the precedents are in his favor, according to the story I linked. 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. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2005, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636/20 "2005-01-08T03:10:42Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > To those who blast him for doing it. What would you do if you had the ball? I’d damn sure send my kid to a better school than Florida State. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-doug-mientkiewicz-being-a-selfish-jerk/283636.md?page=2)