May 2009
5-14-09 PNC Park
Today wasn’t a good day. I was first in line at the stadium.
But there were no Easter Eggs.
Luckily, as soon as I walked in, Ian Snell was picking up a ball and tossed me ball #1.
Then, the cold spell began. I didn’t get any more balls during the Pirates portion of batting practice. The Cardinals came out. Still nothing. It was 5:50 and I headed to center field for the last part of batting practice. Chris Duncan is the Cardinals best home run hitter in batting practice, so I was there waiting.
He hit a few home runs that came close to me. One landed in an empty chair. I was the only one running for it. Some random guy sitting 2 rows behind the ball saw me running, and lazily got up and picked up the ball.
It was 6:00 PM, and I had only one ball. I was thinking to myself, “You really suck. You’re the worst ballhawk in the entire stadium.” Moments later, Duncan hit a ball into the 5th row of section 139. I was in Section 141 and took off running. Myself and a legendary ballhawk named Jim were both after the ball. We both arrived at the same time, however I entered the row that the ball was in, and he was one row up. I was able to snag the ball just in time to get ball #2. A few seconds later, Duncan hit a ball to the same spot, except another row up. Jim and I were off to the races again. Again, I got to the ball a split second faster and got ball #3. Walking back to my seat, I found an easter egg ball wedged between the cement and a seat back. There was a lady sitting close by, so I casually walked over and picked up ball #4. As soon as I picked the ball up, the Cardinals ran off the field, ending their batting practice. Not a bad finish after being stuck on 1 ball for almost an hour.
I tried to get a ball from Karstens, 
STATISTICS:
Game: 5 Balls (3 hit, 2 thrown)
Season: 113 Balls (50 hit, 50 thrown, 13 device)
Games: 21 games (18 with BP, 3 without)
Average: 5.38 balls per game
Career: 279 balls
Attendance: 12,347
5-13-09 PNC Park
I knew today would be a tough day snagging wise from the start. If you recall reading my entry from the Pirates Caravan, I won an opportunity to change 3rd base during the game and be recognized as the fan of the game.
When I received my letter from the Pirates with information, it stated that I needed to be in the security office by 5:30PM to check in, or I would jeopardize the opportunity to change 3rd base. This means that I would have less than a half hour to snag.
My wife and I arrived at the stadium and were near the end of the line to get in. When we did get into the stadium, the minutes ticked away without me snagging anything.
I got nothing from the Pirates.
It was about 5:20 and I still had no balls. Was I going to get shut out for the first time since August of 2008?
Luckily, no. All of the Cardinals pitchers were still warming up in right field when the Cardinals began hitting. 
Do you recognize him? I didn’t. My wife didn’t.
We then had to LEAVE the stadium, and re-enter through the gates to go to our seats. Why they wouldn’t let us take the elevator up to the main concourse, I don’t know. So, I used 4 tickets for the 2 of us (I used 2 of my season tickets for the first 30 minutes so I could snag a ball).
We reported to guest services in the 6th inning and were taken back down into the tunnel, where I joined the grounds crew. No one really said much to me. One guy said, “Here’s the base.” No instructions.
A few pictures:
I got to watch an inning from the top step:
The third out came, and all of the ground crew and myself rushed onto the field.
I went to third base, as Freddy Sanchez walked right past me and changed the base. It came right out, and was changed in a matter of seconds.
After changing the base, I was going to do a Rickey Henderson pose,
But decided I’d better just do a generic pose.
And that was it. We went back to our seats and watched the rest of the game. The Pirates won the game, and I was shut out at the dugout by the umpire.
Here’s the one ball I got:
STATISTICS:
Game: 1 Ball (1 device) (worst snagging day of the season for me)
Season: 108 balls (47 hit, 48 thrown, 13 device)
Games: 20 Games (17 with BP, 3 without)
Average: 5.4 balls per game
Career: 274 balls
Attendance:10,494
5-12-09 PNC Park
The sweetspots:
STATISTICS:
Balls: 9 Balls (4 hit, 4 thrown, 1 device)
Season: 107 Balls (47 hit, 48 thrown, 12 device)
Games: 19 Games (16 with BP, 3 without)
Average: 5.63 Balls per Game
Career: 273 Balls
Attendance: 11,718
5-11-09 Progressive Field
I attending this game with my brother, Jon. It’s the first game I’ve attended with him since last year. He’s not really into ballhawking as much as I am, but would snag a ball today.
We were third in line at the gate, but the two people in front of me sort of got out of line by standing in front of another gate. So, I was first into the stadium. Upon entering, I found ball #1 in the right field seats. I watched helplessly as an usher picked up another ball I had spotted.
Travis Hafner batted at the beginning of batting practice and peppered the right field seats with home runs. I was able to grab ball #2 and ball #3 off of his bat within about the span of a minute.
It helped that the crowd looked like this for the first 30 minutes or so:
STATISTICS:
Game: 9 Balls (8 hit, 1 device)
Season: 98 Balls (43 hit, 44 thrown, 11 device)
Games: 18 Games (15 with BP/ 3 without)
Average: 5.44 balls per game
Career: 264 Balls
Attendance: 14,567
Ballhawk League : Week 5
Zack Hample once again captured the honors of top ballhawk in week 5, snagging 31 balls. Erik Jabs finished a distant second with 22 balls, while Leigh Barratt propelled himself into the top 3 this week with a 13 ball showing.
The week 5 stats are as follows:
WEEK 5 LEADERS:
Total Balls:
1) Zack Hample 31
2) Erik Jabs 22
3) Leigh Barratt 13
Average (balls per game):
1) Zack Hample 10.33
2) Joe Faraguna 10.00
3) Erik Jabs 7.33
Hit Balls Snagged:
1) Erik Jabs 9
2) Leigh Barratt 8
3) Happy Youngster 6
Thrown Balls Snagged:
1) Zack Hample 21
2) Erik Jabs/Joe Faraguna 10
3) Mike in Detroit 9
Device Balls Snagged:
1) Zack Hample 5
2) Erik Jabs/Happy Youngster 3
3) Mike in Detroit 1
Game Balls:
1) Zack Hample 2
2) Happy Youngster/Donny Haltom 1
Competition Factor:
1) Joe Faraguna
2) Happy Youngster
3) Zack Hample
Now, the season stats to date:
2009 SEASON LEADERS:
Total Balls Snagged:
1) Zack Hample 159
2) Happy Youngster 111
3) Erik Jabs 89
Average Balls per Game:
1) Zack Hample 7.95
2) Happy Youngster 6.94
3) Joe Faraguna 6.67
Hit Balls Snagged:
1) Erik Jabs 35
2) Happy Youngster 33
3) Zack Hample 20
Thrown Balls Snagged:
1) Zack Hample 98
2) Happy Youngster 63
3) Alex 58
Device Balls Snagged:
1) Zack Hample 41
2) Happy Youngster 15
3) Erik Jabs 10
Game Balls:
1) Zack Hample 4
2) Happy Youngster 3
3) Leigh Barratt 2
Competition Factor:
1) Joe Faraguna
2) Alex
3) Zack Hample
Can anyone catch up with Zack? Its been tough. Here’s a look at how the top 5 have fared over the past 5 weeks in the race for first place:
TOP BALLHAWK:
Week 1: Happy Youngster 38 (Runner Up: Zack Hample 31)
Week 2: Zack Hample 27 (Runner Up: Erik Jabs 21)
Week 3: Zack Hample 30 (Runner Up: Erik Jabs 21)
Week 4: Zack Hample 40 (Runner Up: Happy Youngster 39)
Week 5: Zack Hample 31 (Runner Up: Erik Jabs 22)
5-9-09 Progressive Field
With the Pirates on the road for a full week, I decided to add two games at Progressive Field. I checked the weather today and since the forecast was favorable, I hopped in my car and took the 2:15 drive to Cleveland.
Since it was Saturday, I had some things working against me:
1) Gates don’t open until 5:30 on weekends
2) Cliff Lee bobblehead day
3) The skies darkened up and it looked like it was going to storm.
When I arrived at Progressive Field around 4, the cage was set up, but I was afraid BP would be wiped out due to the menacing dark clouds. (The lights were on at the stadium).
I walked to the box office and bought the cheapest ticket I could, $9. I then made my way back to the right field gate. It was about 4:15, and a large crowd was gathering. I was about 15th in line. It turns out that there were hundreds of people there for faith night. They were going to hear testimony from Indians player Jamey Carroll.
Imagine my surprise when a supervisor announced that they would be opening the gates an hour early at 4:30! Thank you Jesus!
A full batting practice.
Then went to the upper deck.
Then came back to the main level and asked an usher to take my picture.
And stood in line for 10 minutes to buy a cheeseburger combo meal for $9.25.
When the game started I first sat by the foul pole in right field.
But eventually moved to the left field home run porch. Notice all of the fans are standing at the fence. 
If a home run were hit, they would have a slim chance of catching it. I stood by the garbage cans, awaiting a home run that would never come.
The Tigers won the game 4-0.
A few action shots:
Shin Soo Choo bats against Edwin Jackson
Jim Leyland relays some signs:
Miguel Cabrera against Fausto Carmona as Andy Van Slyke (my favorite player 1988-1993) looks on:
A look at today’s baseballs:
And the sweet spots:
STATISTICS:
Game: 5 Balls (3 hit, 1 thrown, 1 device)
Season: 89 Balls (35 hit, 44 thrown, 10 device)
Games: 17 Games (14 with BP, 3 without)
Average: 5.24 balls per game
Career: 255 Balls
Attendance: 33,640
5-5-09 PNC Park
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
I attended today’s game with my wife. I had to wait for her to get home for work, so we didn’t get to the stadium until 4:55 PM, just in time before the 5 PM gate opening.
Usually I get 1 ball during the Pirates portion during the week (they only hit for about 10-15 more minutes after the gates open). Today, though, I had 4 balls by 5:04. I’ve never gotten off to a start like that in my life.
Ball #1 was tossed from Nyjer Morgan. 
STATISTICS:
Game: 10 balls (4 hit, 4 thrown, 2 device)
Season: 84 balls (32 hit, 43 thrown, 9 device)
Games: 16 games (13 with BP, 3 without)
Average: 5.25 balls per game
Career: 250 balls
Attendance: 9,775
5-4-09 PNC Park
Throughout the day, I thought for sure that batting practice would be canceled. It was raining this morning when I left for work. Raining when I went to lunch. Raining when I left work. Drizzling when I left for the game. So, imagine my surprise when I walked past the left field gates and saw the screens and cage being set up. (The Pirates needed the extra BP after not hitting a home run in more than a week and getting shut out yesterday).
Upon entering the stadium, there was one Easter Egg ball, but another ballhawk got to it first. The Pirates portion of batting practice was slow for me. I got ball #1 when Jason Jaramillo tossed me a baseball before the Pirates finished up at 5:15. Jaramillo was very gracious to all three regular ballhawks in attendance, hooking us each up with a ball.
The Brewers then came out and hit.
Maybe I should’ve tried for foul balls during the game?
A few action shows:
Paul Maholm deals:
Gallardo throws a pitch:
After Matt Capps blew the save and gave up 4 runs in the 9th, I went to the Pirates dugout. (the Pirates lost their SIXTEENTH game in a row to the Brewers).
I usually get shut out at the dugout, having only received one ball there this year before today. The umpire, Bob Davidson came off the field and tossed me a really nice rubbed up game ball. Ball #7.
Not a bad night after all.
Here’s today’s balls:
And the sweet spots: (the 4th ball from the pitcher in center had MVP written on it)
The umpire ball is at the front and center.
STATISTICS:
Game: 7 balls (2 hit, 5 thrown)
Season: 74 balls (28 hit, 39 thrown, 7 device)
Games: 15 games (12 with BP, 3 without)
Average: 4.93 balls per game
Career: 240 balls
Attendance: 8,482
Ballhawk League – Week 4
Week 4 was the tightest week yet, with 3 ballhawks snagging over 30 balls this week. Once again, Zack Hample held off the competition, winning first place for the third consecutive week. Happy Youngster fell 1 ball short.
The complete week 4 stats:
WEEK 4 LEADERS:
Balls snagged:
1) Zack Hample 40
2) Happy Youngster 39
3) Shawn 37
Average (Balls per Game)
1) Zack Hample 8.00
2) Happy Youngster 7.80
3) Shawn 7.40
Games:
1) Hample/Happy/Shawn 5
2) Mike in Detroit 4
Hit Balls:
1) Happy Youngster 9
2) Erik Jabs 7
3) Zack Hample 6
Thrown Balls:
1) Shawn 34
2) Happy Youngster 26
3) Zack Hample 25
Device Balls:
1) Zack Hample 9
2) Happy Youngster 4
3) Shawn/Erik Jabs 1
Competition Factor:
1) Happy Youngster 265,931
2) Shawn 255,734
3) Zack Hample 207,093
On to the most important standings,
The Season Statistics to date.
SEASON LEADERS.
Total Balls snagged:
1) Zack Hample 128
2) Happy Youngster 99
3) Erik Jabs 67
Average (Balls per Game):
1) Zack Hample 7.53
2) Happy Youngster 7.07
3) Alex 6.63
Games:
1) Zack Hample 17
2) Happy Youngster/Erik Jabs 14
3) Bob Fox 10
Hit Balls:
1) Happy Youngster 27
2) Erik Jabs 26
3) Zack Hample 15
Thrown Balls:
1) Zack Hample 77
2) Happy Youngster 60
3) Alex 44
Device Balls:
1) Zack Hample 36
2) Happy Youngster 12
3) Donny Haltom 8
Competition Factor:
1) Alex 247,051
2) Zack Hample 227,251
3) Donny Haltom 222,653
Game Balls
Leigh Barratt 2
Happy Youngster 2
Zack Hample 2
THE ARCHIVE:
TOP BALLHAWK:
Week 1: Happy Youngster 38 (Runner Up: Zack Hample 31)
Week 2: Zack Hample 27 (Runner Up: Erik Jabs 21)
Week 3: Zack Hample 30 (Runner Up: Erik Jabs 21)
Week 4: Zack Hample 40 (Runner Up: Happy Youngster 39)
5-3-09 PNC Park
It rained for most of the morning in Pittsburgh, in fact, it was still raining when I arrived at the ballpark at 11 AM. This could mean only one thing: no batting practice. I was faced with possibly being shut out for the first time since August 2008.
When the stadium opened the gates to the seating areas at 11:30, I went over to the left field foul line. The rain had subsided. Several bullpen pitchers from the Pirates were warming up. I placed myself behind John Grabow and Ross Ohlendorf and waited for an overthrow.
Directly to me. I didn’t even have to move.
Its not like he randomly tossed the ball up and I got into a scrum and stole the ball away from ticketed patrons. He usually picks out people. I caught the ball, waved thanks, turned and left the section. I could hear some snooty lady and her rotund husband getting on the usher. “He doesn’t have a ticket. He shouldn’t be allowed to do that. Don’t let him back in here. Check his ticket.” Blah blah blah.
I went over to left field for the fourth inning to try and get a warm up ball from Nyjer. I avoided the right field seats thanks to the afore mentioned rudest-usher-in-PNC-Park.
Left Field has a lot more sections and people, so I had very little chance. The ball went to a group of people near the foul pole.
Inning 5. I went back to center field. I stood at the far edge of Section 140, away from the snotty lady. I looked over and they were both staring directly at me. I stared right back at them. I should’ve walked over and offered their spoiled kid a ball. “Excuse me, would you like a ball? ….. Then bring a glove!” and walk away. That’s what I felt like doing, I was in such a bad mood.
I didn’t get the 5th inning ball because it was tossed to the second row. Predictably, the ball fell back onto the field. The same thing happened in the seventh inning. That’s why Nate prefers to throw the ball deep.
Anyway, the miserable family got on the usher again after the fifth inning because 3 of us ballhawks entered the section. The usher came over and told me that I wasn’t allowed to try for warm up balls anymore. He said come back and try tomorrow when there’s different people around. He told Nick and Bryan the same thing. If you’re wondering, here’s what those “folks” looked like:
(To be civil, I am editing this paragraph from what I originally wrote. I’ve taken out most of the colorful adjectives I originally had written.) Its the guy eating, his son, and the lady in the orange.
I could’ve tried in the seventh and ninth, but out of respect for the ushers, I went and sat behind the Reds dugout to see if I could get some foul balls. There are nice ushers at PNC Park, the ones in center field were just doing their job because the supervisor somehow got involved.
I didn’t get any foul balls, and I got shut out at the Reds dugout, so my day ended on a sour note.
To make it worse, the Pirates looked awful again, getting shut out. They haven’t hit a home run now in a week.
Adam LaRoche’s body language tells the whole story:
A few shots from the game:
Johnny Cueto deals to Nyjer Morgan:
Evan Meek (a big Dave Matthews Band fan):
Jesse Chavez (tossed me my first ball of the day:
Today’s baseballs:
And the sweet spots:
STATISTICS:
Game: 3 balls (3 thrown)
Season: 67 balls (26 hit, 34 thrown, 7 device)
Games: 14 games (11 with BP, 3 without)
Average: 4.79 balls per game
Career: 233 balls
Attendance: 13,670
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