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Rutgers student snags Rodriguez's 500th
by JoAnne Sills
Sunday August 05, 2007, 12:02 AM
Alex Rodriguez's 500th home run was grabbed up yesterday by a Rutgers University graduate student who snagged the historic hit which set off great celebration at Yankee Stadium.
Walter "Sonny" Kowalczyk, 29, formerly of Hamilton Township, won a battle for the balls, catching the high, arcing shot that Rodriguez slammed into the left field stands, his cousin Dawn Chiacchio said.
Whether Kowalczyk would give, trade or sell the ball to A-Rod was unknown last night.
Chiacchio, told The Star-Ledger that after the game team officials took Kowalczyk to a suite at Yankee Stadium, then he met some players and was whisked by limousine to an undisclosed location to a place where the ball could be safely stored. She was not at the game.
"It's been a bit crazy. I first heard it when my mom called me. And I have gotten a million text messages," said Chiacchio, who said her cousin lives with his girlfriend in New York City.
Attempts to reach Kowalczyk were unsuccessful last night.
Rodriguez, who identified the ball's owner as a Rutgers student, was diplomatic after the game when asked about the fate of the baseball.
"It's his ball," Rodriguez said after the Yankees hammered the Kansas City Royals 16-8. "I'm happy for him. And hopefully we can negotiate something that can get that ball back. I really want it back. But if not, I congratulate him for catching it. Nice catch."
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2007/08/rutgers_student_snags_rodrigue.html
So what would you do with the ball?
by JoAnne Sills
Sunday August 05, 2007, 12:02 AM
Alex Rodriguez's 500th home run was grabbed up yesterday by a Rutgers University graduate student who snagged the historic hit which set off great celebration at Yankee Stadium.
Walter "Sonny" Kowalczyk, 29, formerly of Hamilton Township, won a battle for the balls, catching the high, arcing shot that Rodriguez slammed into the left field stands, his cousin Dawn Chiacchio said.
Whether Kowalczyk would give, trade or sell the ball to A-Rod was unknown last night.
Chiacchio, told The Star-Ledger that after the game team officials took Kowalczyk to a suite at Yankee Stadium, then he met some players and was whisked by limousine to an undisclosed location to a place where the ball could be safely stored. She was not at the game.
"It's been a bit crazy. I first heard it when my mom called me. And I have gotten a million text messages," said Chiacchio, who said her cousin lives with his girlfriend in New York City.
Attempts to reach Kowalczyk were unsuccessful last night.
Rodriguez, who identified the ball's owner as a Rutgers student, was diplomatic after the game when asked about the fate of the baseball.
"It's his ball," Rodriguez said after the Yankees hammered the Kansas City Royals 16-8. "I'm happy for him. And hopefully we can negotiate something that can get that ball back. I really want it back. But if not, I congratulate him for catching it. Nice catch."
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2007/08/rutgers_student_snags_rodrigue.html
So what would you do with the ball?