The Fight For 500

by Jaime R on Aug 7, 2007 5:16 PM EDT in New York Yankees News

Now that the figurative confetti after A-Rod's 500th homer has been swept away, the anticipation deflated, and the business of baseball in the Bronx continues, a whole new angle to the story has emerged: What happens to the ball?

Walter (Sonny) Kowalczyk, a graduate student from Trenton, was hiding out yesterday with his family as he tried to figure out what to do with the historic piece of cowhide that could be worth more than $100,000.

The guy who caught the most famous ball in New York since the one that found it's way between Bill Buckner's legs, is learning a whole new brand of hardball. It seems the Yankees are lowballing him, but the guy is holding fast. Kowalczyk hasn't named his price and the Yankees haven't made known what their willing to give up. Though they have a huge organizational advantage, Kowalczyk is nobody's fool:

He is now a graduate labor relations student at Rutgers, and wants to go to law school next year.

I hope they can come to some amicable agreement. The last thing the team needs is a circus complete with lawyers and deuling press releases. The value of the ball is estimated up to 100K. He could hold out and sell it on the open market, but it's probably best to sell now. I would probably make a deal with the Yanks for cash and free season tickets behind home plate. Selling those games alone could make up the difference. What would be your price?

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

season tickets

The Yankee would never give free season tickets because they have been aggressively taking their subcriptions back from loyal ticket account holders. The Yankees are complete assholes when it comes to season tickets. I don't even think they would even offer season tks. if the guy would pay for them. The greedy Yanks want as much tickets back for the new stadium as they can get. I know first hand how corporate and cut throat they can be. I almost became a Met fan but they woke up. I relized I root for the team on the field and not the assholes wearing suits. The main prick is that Chang guy from Tickets relations. They all suck!!!!!

by miracle96 on Aug 7, 2007 5:27 PM EDT reply actions

what did they

do to you and your tickets?

Pride, Power, Cocktease

by ReLaunch on Aug 7, 2007 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

tickets

I had 5 tickets sec 7 row b awesome tickets right next to Jeter when he is on deck. I had these for over 20 years and last year they accused me of selling them and took them back. I tried everything and they pretty much told me to get lost and you will never be able to buy a Yankee subscripton ever again. I seriously could not even watch any Yankee games the rest of the year I was so angry and upset. I sat in these tickets with my father for over 20 years and my father passed away in 2005 and the next year they pull this shit on me. These days its tough to even go to the stadium. I love the Yankees I never missed a playoff game with my dad since 1995. It will never be the same for me. Although I still support the team on the field as a diehard Yankee.

by miracle96 on Aug 7, 2007 5:39 PM EDT reply actions

That sucks.

I guess you were probably selling your tickets on stubhub. When I find out about them doing that last year, I stopped selling them on that website. Funny how though they just announced this week that stubhub and mlb are now official partners for ticket resales.
Were you selling alot above face value? I only sold at face so maybe thats why nothing happened to me.

Pride, Power, Cocktease

by ReLaunch on Aug 7, 2007 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

And now, I read someplace that MLB

has signed an agreement with StubHub. StubHub runs ads on the radio feed. And you get in trouble for selling your seats (which you didn't)?

Scholars see baseball as a force for passing along the essential value of democracy. Baseball reveals significant themes like class and race.

by sanchez96 on Aug 7, 2007 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

you are right though

the first thing I would ask for would be a full box of 8 tickets in the infield boxes. Probaly cost around $80,000 for the 8 tks. for the year and without a cost you would be living large for now and the future. (I would even be happy with 4 tks.)Not even counting playoffs. Tickets next 2 years will be off the hook they will break every attendance record and may not break those records again.

by miracle96 on Aug 7, 2007 5:44 PM EDT reply actions

no stubhub

I was selling other tickets I had in MBX but they would not checking those people that much ( I still have those.) They main priority was FBX's. I never sold my 7B's on stubhub, I new the Yankees were taking tks. back so I gave them to clients and friends for the year waiting for the new law to be passed leagalizing ticket brokers in NYC. I am a tickets broker but knew better than to put anything on stubhub that was a season ticket. I am a supplier for Stubhub and what really pisses me off is the Yankees advertised stubhub all last year and then the people selling their tks on stubhub had them taken away. The yanks stole back over 100 season ticket accounts last year.

by miracle96 on Aug 7, 2007 5:49 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, that

advertising of Stubhub on Yankee radio/Tv really pissed me off too.

Hey, since you are new to the site, when responding to someones message, hit the reply to this tab. That will help people understand what message you are replying to.

Anaconda will give you the official greeting shortly.

Pride, Power, Cocktease

by ReLaunch on Aug 7, 2007 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Damn

I was thinking about what that homerun ball would be worth to me before Arod hit it.
I would have gone for an Arod jersey signed by the starting lineup and a ball signed by Mo (for my brother).
I probably would have been selling low.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Aug 7, 2007 5:55 PM EDT reply actions

Nah,

I would be thinking on how I could get rid of my mortgage payments and how to make the tailgates even more overboard.

Pride, Power, Cocktease

by ReLaunch on Aug 7, 2007 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

If this were Fantasyland

I would say to Arod:

"Alex, the ball is yours. I will give it to you free of charge when you show up in pinstripes at Legends Field next spring. If your spring home is elsewhere, no ball for you."

by matthaggs on Aug 7, 2007 5:55 PM EDT reply actions