12/22/24
June 21, 2004
Five Hundred for Junior: A humble player, a proud father, and a fan that doesn't bicker about price. It does one good to see such an achievement played out so well.
The ball was caught by 19-year-old Mark Crummley of Mount Carmel, Ill., who gave it back to Griffey after the game. Griffey gave Crummley the jersey off his back and a large shopping bag filled with other memorabilia that included a signed bat from Casey. He gave him the game-worn jersey in which he hit #500? I'll take that over the silly baseball ANY day.
posted by grum@work at 10:23 AM on June 21, 2004
(I was thinking the same thing.)
posted by sixpacker at 10:34 AM on June 21, 2004
i think griffey would rather have the ball since that is what he hit. the bat and the ball makes griffey happy and the fan can be happy with the jersey. everyone's happy!
posted by gspm at 11:33 AM on June 21, 2004
i am SO happy. Happy that the losers they were playing lost, and that the Reds won! Go reds! (our long nightmare of not making the playoffs is soon over... right? right?)
posted by insomnyuk at 12:51 AM on June 22, 2004
thanks for posting it. i was going to this morning. i was watching the recaps of the game last night on sportscenter, along with some commentary from Junior himself. Fantastic heartwarming moment. Very appropriate for Father's Day. I'm so happy for Griffey Jr, and Sr.