# You catch Jeter's 3000th hit. What do you do? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 16, 2011, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509 "2011-09-16T12:40:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/1 "2011-09-16T12:40:19Z")
As we all may or may not know, Derek Jeter hit his 3000th hit a couple of months ago, and it was a home run. The fan who ended up with the ball was holding potentially a very large amount of money in his hands when he was shuffled up to the owner’s box and asked what he wanted for it. Personally I think he did the classy thing and just gave it to them; they gave him a bunch of signed Yankees stuff and a luxury suite for the rest of the season, which is a pretty nice but certainly not a financial windfall, at least of the liquid variety. Question here is: what would you have done? ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/2 "2011-09-16T12:54:56Z")
I would have wanted money for it, most likely. First, I’m not a Yankees fan and wouldn’t have appreciated the Yankees freebies offered in return (4 season tickets in a suite for “the rest of this year”, autographed memorabilia, etc.) as much as the actual guy did. Second, I have 3 kids spaced 2 years apart each with college tuition for the eldest on the horizon in 6 years, and the college funds at this point are no higher - may even be lower - in value on average now than when they were started 5 years ago. And the mortgage on my house still has 20 years of payments left on it, too. The need to stockpile serious cashola is ever on my mind. So even if it were some Cooperstown bound career milestone baseball for my favorite player on my favorite team, I’d have to take off the baseball cap and put on my “business” hat. And if I were a pro athlete I’d understand that too. “The game ball” doesn’t mean the same in baseball as it would in HS football or something, they use new baseballs even after foul balls. I wouldn’t need the physical baseball as a memento of the occasion, if anything I’d treasure the bat I held in my hand to do it as the trophy item. That said I’d still feel kind of dirty to demand a specific dollar amount from Jeter or the Yankees for the ball - “I want $250,000” or some such. I’d let them make an offer and “something reasonable” would be fine, otherwise to Sotheby’s it goes. (eBay?) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/3 "2011-09-16T13:00:19Z")
Auction, baby! For something like that, there’s a fair market value that’s not at all known until more than one person (i.e. Jeter or the Yankees management) gets to bid on it. Why should I shortchange myself if some weirdo in Idaho is willing to pay $10,000 more than Jeter is? ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/4 "2011-09-16T13:01:17Z")
That said, a pair of (free) _lifetime_ season tickets - not even in a suite, just a good location - would be pretty darn awesome. I think I read somewhere about a fan who got such a prize (don’t remember for what team). I have to admit that would probably sway me, and might even (dare I say) get me to at least be a dual fan of the Yankees. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/5 "2011-09-16T13:09:05Z")
If it’s a rookie’s first homerun or something, I’d give it back. in exchange for a signed ball or bat or similar item. Jeter has made hundreds of millions of dollars playing baseball and being a valued pitchman for Ford and whoever else. The ball is legally mine, he has the wherewithal to pay me an appropriate market price for the ball, if he wants it. While I’m not poor\*, I am not independently wealthy, and some money in my pocket would go a long way towards paying off the house, getting a new car, funding my son’s college, etc. I have far more responsibility towards my family’s finances than I have towards Jeter’s feelings. Note as well that the swag Christian Lopez got in return is taxable. I read that someone out there is offering to pay that tax bill, Miller or some other corporation. I can’t possibly describe how I’d feel doing a classy thing for a multi-multi millionaire and winding up with a ten thousand dollar tax bill in return. \*depends on your definition of poor ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/6 "2011-09-16T13:24:12Z")
Personally I’m holding out for as much as I can get. I don’t give a shit about Derek Jeter or the Yankees. Also I think the Yankees cheaped out on Christian Lopez. A luxury suite for the rest of this season? Isn’t the season almost over? Were I a Yankees fan I’d have held out for _at least_ lifetime season tickets, not even for a luxury suite. And I’d have expected the team to pony up for the taxes he’s on the hook for (turns out Miller or someone else covered it). ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/7 "2011-09-16T13:24:35Z")
Definately sell it off to the highest bidder. The memory and the fact that I was the one to catch it will never go away. The ball is just a ball. If it means that much to someone else then they can bid how much they feel it’s worth to them. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/8 "2011-09-16T13:25:34Z")
If I’m in the bleachers at Fenway and he cranks right into my grubby little mitts … I throw it back in the the outfield … and never pay for another beer in Boson … ever. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/9 "2011-09-16T13:46:04Z")
Jesus. I couldn’t have pulled off more typos there if I planned it. For the record “cranks \*\*it \*\*into my grubby little mitts” … “I throw it back \*\*into \*\*the outfield” … and the city is spelled “Boston.” Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/10 "2011-09-16T13:57:19Z")
I’d probably revel in catching it and then give it to a kid. I mean, money yes, cool Yankees shit yes, but I could not care less about the Yankees shit and some kid can have the stuff that goes with it. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/11 "2011-09-16T14:52:04Z")
I’d sell the ball, probably at auction. I don’t live in New York, so free passes to future games are pretty worthless to me. I don’t really care about Yankees team memorabilia, so let the bidding begin… ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/12 "2011-09-16T14:55:17Z")
Throw it back. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/13 "2011-09-16T15:22:32Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > Throw it back. So you’re “the man” for a day or two and then you spend the rest of your life regretting the 6 figure windfall that you threw back onto the field? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/14 "2011-09-16T16:46:35Z")
I need the money. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/15 "2011-09-16T16:52:20Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Also I think the Yankees cheaped out on Christian Lopez. A luxury suite for the rest of this season? Isn’t the season almost over? It was early July when Jeter hit the home run, so the season wasn’t almost over. The deal Lopez got sounded plenty good to me. I’d have been happy to take the seats and things and live it up a little. > [@markdash](#): > > So you’re “the man” for a day or two and then you spend the rest of your life regretting the 6 figure windfall that you threw back onto the field? The game was at Yankee Stadium, so you wouldn’t be the man if you threw it back. People would probably think you were a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/16 "2011-09-16T17:06:00Z")
While we’re talking about it, is Lopez the guy handing out all the Yankees tickets in that MasterCard commercial? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/17 "2011-09-16T17:14:41Z")
Publicly burn it. All things Yankee are Evil, and must be destroyed lest they wreak havoc and chaos in this plane. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/18 "2011-09-16T17:27:45Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Auction, baby! I picked the first choice in the poll, but this is what I meant by it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/19 "2011-09-16T17:37:14Z")
I’d sell it but give Jeter and/or the Yankee organization the right to match it, or at least come up with a valuable alternative. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509/20 "2011-09-16T18:44:11Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It was early July when Jeter hit the home run, so the season wasn’t almost over. The deal Lopez got sounded plenty good to me. I’d have been happy to take the seats and things and live it up a little. > The game was at Yankee Stadium, so you wouldn’t be the man if you threw it back. People would probably think you were a jerk. Guess I was flashing back to **Jack Batty** ’s post about catching it at Fenway. I doubt someone who hated Jeter/the Yankees would be in the bleachers at Yankee stadium. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-catch-jeters-3000th-hit-what-do-you-do/596509.md?page=2)