The New York Yankees have come to an agreement with Zack Hample on the home run ball Alex Rodriguez smashed for his 3,000th hit. Hample is a well-known ball hawk who has collected thousands of baseballs over the years and happened to be in the right place at the right time to catch Rodriguez’s ball.
Hample refused to give the ball back initially unless the Yankees made a donation to a favorite charity of Hample’s, Pitch in for Baseball. Pitch in for Baseball is an organization that provides new and slightly used baseball and softball equipment to kids around the world who would like to play the sport but don’t have the proper equipment to do so.
A few weeks and a little haggling later, the two sides have worked out a deal: Hample returned the ball to the Yankees and the club is donating $150,000 to the charity.
.@AROD and & @zack_hample discuss Alex’s 3,000th hit ball & Pitch In for Baseball. pic.twitter.com/rMSFIu5SPl
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 3, 2015
It’s a beautiful thing when a baseball team worth north of $2 billion dollars so graciously donates such a significant amount to a worthwhile charity. And for a good cause too: so the most known cheater of the last fifteen years can cherish being a member of the 3,000th hit club.