Kids parents turn around and sell it and buy nice new cars to drive the kid to the babysitters house in.
Definitely auction. I hate baseball, so the only way I’d be at a game is if my work group was having an outing or something. And if I was lucky enough to catch it, I’d let the market determine what it’s worth and be happy with whatever I got.
I’d auction it off, but I’d let Jeter/the Yankees make the first bid. I wouldn’t give them an asking price, but I say “How much is it worth to you?” If they made a good enough offer - in cash money, not in any stinkin’ suites or autographed jersies - I’d take it and sell it to them. If they didn’t then it be off to the auction house.
With my luck I’d be mugged on my way out of the Stadium. 
I chose the ‘Other’ option.
It’s already been said above, but I think (assuming I lived in the area) I would try to get something that keeps on giving. In other words 2 or 4 ‘good’ seats for life, or 50 years or something like that. Barring that I’d first try to get what I could but retaining ‘ownership’ of the ball and ‘loaning’ it to the Baseball Hall of Fame or something. The reason I chose other was because I think it’s foolish to make a decision within hours of obtaining the ball. I’d mull over my options.
ha ha, I just thought you were trying to ‘talk’ like you were from Boston.
He did the classy thing, I suppose, but I wouldn’t. I pretty well despise the Yankees, though I like Jeter well enough. I’d sell it to him for enough money to get my family out of debt - maybe 50 grand or so.
Joe
Were I to catch such a baseball I’d be both alarmed and impressed at the strength of the hit, because I can’t imagine actually being at a baseball game of my own free will!
I’d keep it, see what the current value may be, try and see if there’s any idea of what the futur value might be (is this guy done and this is the last milestone ball he’s likely to hit, or does he have another 15 years to go in his career?) and figure out who to sell it to and for how much at a later date. I’d never make a decision on the spot like that, and I’d turn down any baseball swag that was offered.
Sell it, definitely. I despise the Yankees, so nothing they could give me would be of interest.
Not for nothing, but nobody who reaches 3,000 hits is destined for another 15 years worth of milestones … unless the milestone he’s going for is ‘The only 50 year old still playing professional baseball.’
Heh you’re right, but then again, I just picked a number a random to make a point; I wasn’t only referring to 3000 hits, but any significant milestone ball/puck/other sports equipment. So the next hockey phenom scores 50 in 50; that 50th puck’s value might be worth more in a rookie or final career season than in another one where the player might have many years ahead where he could be expected to achieve the same thing (I suppose; I have no actual knowledge of the price of sports memorabilia, but I assume context matters!)
I’ll give you a clue as to what I would do:
“Hey, bidder, bidder, bidder…c’mon, bidder, bidder…”
mmm
While I enthusiastically agree with this sentiment in principle, I think the auction route would be my choice, particularly since it makes it less likely that someone in the Yankees organization will get it and the Yankees can suck it. The key element to the scheme is me getting a bunch of money for an item I have absolutely no interest in possessing because it is tainted with the stench of the Yankees.
This. The notion that it’s the right (and “classy”) thing, for a fan to just give this ball to an extremely rich athlete for free or close to it, is absurd.
Straight to auction, no question.
I don’t like the Yankees, but my answer would be the same even if the player was my favorite player on my favorite team.
Money, baby, money.
I’d tour a couple of sports shows and then it’s off to auction.
My standard answer, “hookers and blow”. I’ll bet the Yankees have plenty of both in the clubhouse.