Utter douchbaggery

Just in case it wasn't obvious, I am a huge baseball fan, bordering on obsessive with my Chicago Cubs. I love all aspects of the game, so when the opportunity presents itsself to get something that has been a part of the game, be it an autograph, ball or even a tiny shred of an old jersey on a trading card, I jump at it. That being said, I do it the right way. I let kids in front of me in autograph crowds. I loan my pen to other seekers. I have held the legs of a fellow fan as he dangles over the field to get a ball. I love getting the stuff, but it is not the end-all, be-all key to my existence, certainly not at a baseball game. I go because I love the game and want to be as close to it as often as I can.

Unfortunately, this is not the case with all "fans," and this was brought to light recently with an incident in Milwaukee and the first career home run of Marlin, Chris Coghlan. The ball was caught by a self-proclaimed "ballhawk" and Brewer season ticket holder known as "happyyoungster." After acquiring 11 baseballs, including one thrown to him by Coghlan before the game, "happyyoungster" was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time to catch the milestone home run. 

After denying requests for the ball from members of the Marlins front office and coaching  staff without a significant ransom, "happyyoungster" was asked to wait at the Marlin dugout after the game to discuss the ball. At this time he restated his demands; a signed Coghlan bat with a personalized inscription, a signed ball from Coghlan, a photo with Coghlan and a signed bat by Coghlan's teammate, All-Star Hanley Ramirez, who had no connection to the home run or the negotiations. Upon being rebuffed about the Ramirez bat, "happyyoungster" then insisted on tickets to a future series in Miami (whether it was Brewers or Yankees is undetermined. "happy" claims Brewers, whereas the Marlins representatives say Yankees). A deal was then struck, Coghlan took his baseball (which was later presented to his mother as a token of his gratitude to her) and the story leaked to the press when Coghlan was interviewed about the homer.

"happyyoungster" is now offended that he was painted in a negative light for his actions. Sorry, bud, but if you act like a jackass, you will be called out for being a jackass. I have thought long and hard about what I would do in this situation. Notwithstanding the fact that "happy" along with the other "ballhawks" show their true fandom by dressing in hats and t-shirts of both teams on any given day to increase their chances of getting balls from the players, which are then just tallied and stored in garbage cans, his demands were out of line. Had I caught the ball, I would have loved to have gotten a king's ransom for it, but in reality, anything I got would be icing on the cake. I probably would have settled for a chance to meet the player and get something, anything, signed for me. Perhaps one of the OTHER 11 BALLS THAT I HAD GOTTEN THAT DAY!

It sickens me to hear stories like this about adult fans and collectors, because it paints all of us in a bad light. I don't want to be standing at the railing at a stadium and have the players, or worse yet, the kids or parents in the vicinity, think that I am one of these self-centered jerks who is just there to add to my lifetime total, do anything to get a ball or autograph, and later screw them over.

Thanks a lot "happyyoungster." Great job.