What Would You Do With History?

by Christopher Gates on Jul 12, 2011 11:33 PM CDT in Non-Football

This past weekend, one of the two big stories (along with the U.S.A.'s win in the Women's World Cup) was that of New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter collecting career hit number 3,000. He's the 28th member of the 3,000 hit club, and only the second person to hit a home run for his 3,000th career hit.

As the ball went into the seats at Yankee Stadium, that means it inevitably wound up in the hands of a fan. . .in this case, a 23-year old cell phone salesman that was quoted as saying that he had some debts he could pay off. Now, some estimates placed the ball in question as being worth right around a quarter of a million dollars, which would certainly go a long way towards paying off a great deal of debt for a person.

But, rather than cashing it in and putting the ball on the open market, Lopez took a different tack. . .he simply returned the ball to Jeter. Don't get me wrong, the Yankees rewarded Lopez quite nicely. . .and the IRS is probably going to come knocking as a result. . .but what he's getting from the team is still a pretty far cry from a quarter of a million dollars.

As we know, football doesn't lend itself very well to this kind of thing. After all, when Adrian Peterson set the single-game rushing record, everybody knew where the football was. When Brett Favre threw his 500th touchdown pass, everybody knew where the ball was. Baseball, however, is subject to this kind of thing.

So, if you managed to find yourself holding a piece of history such as this, what would you do? Would you be able to do the "right thing" and just give it up, or would you cash it in to help yourself and your family in pretty tough economic times? Be as honest as you can, ladies and gentlemen.

Poll

If you were in a possession of a piece of sports history, such as Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit, what would you do with it?

I'd give the ball back to whoever made history. It's the right thing to do.

122 votes

I believe the kids today would say, "Shorty is about to get paid" and so forth.

204 votes

326 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 42 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

This is easy for me

I may be in the minority here, but I’d sell it to them. Heres how I see it, you probably payed a pretty hefty price for your ticket if you’re catching a homerun. You had a 1 in 20,000 chance at getting that ball and you did it. Why should you have to give up one of the coolest things you’ve ever done because “Its the right thing to do.” If Jeter really wanted the ball then I’d want a lot because it is a very valuable item. If they didn’t see it that way, I’d keep it and pass it through my family forever.

Ponder to Harvin for 6!

by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Jul 13, 2011 12:35 AM CDT reply actions

I agree...

if you are a Derek Jeter or NY Yankee fan then you keep the ball. If not then sell it either to Jeter or the Yankees themselves. if giving the ball back is the “right thing to do” then why aren’t all homeruns given back to players. I don’t see players hankering for those homers that fans in San Fran go out in the water for.

by midnightwonder on Jul 13, 2011 7:40 AM CDT up reply actions

That seems reasonable

Because it’s the Yankees..and you know they can afford it..but I guess that’s easy for me to say because I hate the yankees..now if it had been a twin(say jim thome hitting his 600th dinger) then I guess it would be a bit more difficult..but chances are I’d still offer them the ball for a decent price first before deciding to keep it..if they have been in the league long enough to reach one of these milestones, then chances are they are probably pretty financially sound(read:rich)

by PURPpplEATER on Jul 13, 2011 7:42 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I would asbsolutely refuse to sell the ball to someone else though

It would either be mine or the player’s/team(for a hefty price mind you)..those are the only options..like the title reads..it’s a part of history..it’s very valuable and it’s not being greedy just logical..being greedy would be auctioning off the ball to the highest bidder but I think offering the player a bid at it and then keeping it for yourself if they don’t want to fork over the cash is reasonable..on a side note wouldn’t it be funny if they were playing the twins and there was a lone twins fan in the middle of the yanks that caught the ball..fought everyone else off..then proceeded to throw it back lol..ahhh one can dream

by PURPpplEATER on Jul 13, 2011 8:00 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

stars aligned

fate would place that ball in my hand…

…and fate shall get me paid. Hallelujah!

by Odin'sDrunkenSon on Jul 13, 2011 8:05 AM CDT reply actions

And correct me if I'm wrong Chris but..

If I read the yahoo article correctly they want to charge Christian taxes for the yankee contribution..they said it’s seen by the IRS as income..I just don’t see it that way..if you ask me it’s a gift and he shouldn’t be required to pay anything..I can understand how people on gameshows might have to pay taxes on money earned and in the lottery..I get how that can be taken as income..but he didn’t ask for anything he was GIVEN..he simply gave the ball back and they made a nice gesture..if anything you’d think the yankees would be taxed..I’d say it’s just a gift and yahoo is pushing out another B.S. story..

by PURPpplEATER on Jul 13, 2011 8:11 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Just to be clear

The IRS will come knocking NOT because he gave the ball to the Yankees. They will show up because he was given gifts by the Yankees that have value (e.g. very nice seats at every Yankees home game throughout the rest of the season). That said, I wouldn’t’ be surprised if the Yankees also agreed to pay whatever taxes he ends up owing on the gifts.

by kcskol on Jul 13, 2011 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions

IRS

will then tax the cash they gave him :P
Its a vicious cycle!

**Rupert for ProBowl 2012!**

by LeeleeX on Jul 13, 2011 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes, but...

You can calculate that in the payments as well so that at the end of the day he doesn’t go out of pocket. Companies do it all the time when trying to give employees a benefit as if it were taxfree.

by kcskol on Jul 13, 2011 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes, but...

You can calculate that in the payments as well so that at the end of the day he doesn’t go out of pocket. Companies do it all the time when trying to give employees a benefit as if it were taxfree.

by kcskol on Jul 13, 2011 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions

I would give it back.

The amount of good will I would feel by returning the ball would out any $.

"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
George Bernard Shaw

"In those days the best painkiller was ice; it wasn't addictive and it was particularly effective if you poured some whiskey over it."
George Burns

by just another viking on Jul 13, 2011 8:12 AM CDT reply actions

What about handing the ball over to a legitimate charity...

Then they could make a decision of what they wanted to do with it…
Wouldn’t this be better than handing it back to a multi-millionaire?

by Jester01 on Jul 13, 2011 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep that would also be an option

Not sure I would keep it tho i think I would give it away so it could do some good somewhere. or at least give it to the “mulit-millionaire”

"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
George Bernard Shaw

"In those days the best painkiller was ice; it wasn't addictive and it was particularly effective if you poured some whiskey over it."
George Burns

by just another viking on Jul 14, 2011 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Depends whose history it was....

Not a HUGE Yankee’s fan, and Jeter…ehh, hes a roided up cry baby.
Catching a ball from an authentic athlete “hero” ya I can see giving it back.
But with the understanding if at any time in the future said athlete falls on “IRS” hard times and has to sell the ball, item, I get 50% :)

**Rupert for ProBowl 2012!**

by LeeleeX on Jul 13, 2011 8:38 AM CDT reply actions

I agree, I would give it back to someone I highly respected

Childress gone, TJack gone, new stadium on the way: it's like that Christmas when Santa brought prostitutes!

by Grime on Jul 13, 2011 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Jeter, Roids?

What makes you think he did PEDs? The reason it’s worth a lot bc he is the poster boy of a clean player during the roid era.

“If your dad needs money, go ask
Mickey Mantle. See what happens.

Mickey Mantle don’t care about
you. Why care about him?"
-A Bronx Tale

I would auction it off to the highest seller, Jeter can afford the ball. I’m a big Yankee fan but I’m not complete sucker.

Also Mauer makes a ton, if you’re Twin fan why give back a milestone ball to him. Especially if you have 200k in debt like Mr. Lopez.

http://drawingwalks.wordpress.com/

by YankeeViking on Jul 13, 2011 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Same reason I think most of them do.

Because it takes alot to get ahead in MLB and when half the team is on them, its hard to say the other half is 100% clean.
Ive watched my baseball idols go down in flames from drugs to steriods, and its very sad.
But someone being clean now a days, when their house is so full of it, just means they havent been caught.
Again, youre obviously a fan, and thats fine, but thats just my opinion.

**Rupert for ProBowl 2012!**

by LeeleeX on Jul 13, 2011 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree most do.

Jeter has never been my fave. I grew up a fan when the Yanks sucked, and when the dynasty years came around Bernie and O’Neill were my guys prob bc they put time in before the glamor. Anyways I really don’t suspect Jeter a lot. He’s fallen off the cliff in production, so no age defying crap. Lastly he’s made his living the old school way with going the other way, not with tape measure shots.

http://drawingwalks.wordpress.com/

by YankeeViking on Jul 13, 2011 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions

If it's...

say Joe Mauer, I give it back… If it’s Jeter (insert Yankee), that bitch is goin on ebay

by hatethenate on Jul 13, 2011 9:05 AM CDT reply actions

I'd sell it

I don’t have the luxury of knowing for sure that I can afford to send my kids to college. I don’t know what health issues my wife and I may end up having in the future. My mortgage hasn’t been paid off. If I get lucky enough to end up with a $250K ball in my hands, you can count on the fact that I’ll try to turn that into some security for my family. And I don’t feel badly about that. On the other hand, if a giant bale of pot falls out of the sky, or if the recipe for some life saving cure for cancer falls into my possession, I would turn both over to the authorities. That’s the right thing to do. Giving a baseball to a multi millionaire who is in the process of building the largest house on Long Island is, well, a romantic gesture but not the sort of thing I’d consider doing. Sorry.

by kcskol on Jul 13, 2011 10:01 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Rec'd

by Jester01 on Jul 13, 2011 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Is Derek Jeter really wearing a Derek Jeter shirt?

Classy

by Dr_Defecate on Jul 13, 2011 10:07 AM CDT reply actions

You know

Incase he forgets who he is…

**Rupert for ProBowl 2012!**

by LeeleeX on Jul 13, 2011 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd give it back

I think selling something like that is wrong. But that’s just me.

"Lord I pray for the eyes of an eagle, the heart of a lion and the balls of a combat helicopter pilot."

The Daily Norseman
Off Tackle Empire
SB Nation Minnesota

by Ted Glover on Jul 13, 2011 10:32 AM CDT reply actions

I'd sell it back to the player..then everyone wins

I guess I’m just confused about how the guy would be required to pay taxes on a gift..granted it’s worth a great deal of money..but it is a GIFT..he didn’t buy any of this stuff..he didn’t request it..he didn’t do anything except give the ball back..if the yankees want to go out of their way to give him something then that’s their business..you don’t see people getting taxed for catching a T-shirt out of the gun at a game..same deal(granted one is much more money) but that doesn’t make sense to me..or if the guy decided to sell the ball on ebay(at that point, his own property) would he then be taxed for it? I don’t recall the last time I got taxed for anything I sold on ebay..is there a certain price/amount where it’s considered taxable? Or is this just a case of the IRS seeing a way to score some extra $$$

by PURPpplEATER on Jul 13, 2011 11:44 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Its a gift

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=108139,00.html

Personally I think Jeter should have to pay taxes on the GIFT of the ball back too!

**Rupert for ProBowl 2012!**

by LeeleeX on Jul 13, 2011 11:57 AM CDT reply actions

It's $10 ball until it's sold for something else.

Do you think Cal Ripken/Twins should have paid taxes on his 3,000 hit ball being given to him?

http://drawingwalks.wordpress.com/

by YankeeViking on Jul 13, 2011 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions

The ball has a worth past that of the package price.

Obviously youre a Yankee’s fan so arguing with you is akin to trying to explain to a Packers fan….anything.
And if you cant see my statement was said in a jest, then im real sorry for ya.

**Rupert for ProBowl 2012!**

by LeeleeX on Jul 13, 2011 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions

but...

I’m also a Viking fan.

http://drawingwalks.wordpress.com/

by YankeeViking on Jul 13, 2011 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions

So according to this article, the gift tax is usually paid for by the donor(the Yankees)

So why should this guy have to pay for the taxes if the Yankees are the one giving the guy these gifts?

by PURPpplEATER on Jul 13, 2011 2:20 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

It can be

And I would think they could help a man out TBH.

**Rupert for ProBowl 2012!**

by LeeleeX on Jul 13, 2011 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions

In the financial situation I am in...

I would hold the ball until estimates came out about how much the ball’s value is worth. (In this case $250,000) I would expect that amount from Jeter. If Jeter / Yankees / MLB didn’t want to cough up the cash, I would sell it to the highest bidder.
The ball’s value alone would pay off my home loan, AND secure a retirement. In my position, and many, many other people’s positions, you’d have to be crazy not to.
I would love to be financially secure enough to be able to hand the ball back to Jeter. I think it would be a great thing to do as a true fan… but I am not in a financial situation to just cough it up.

by Jester01 on Jul 13, 2011 12:02 PM CDT reply actions

I'd give it back

It just doesn’t seem right to make th team or player pay. If you would give it back to say Joe Mauer, then you’d have to give it to Jeter.

by Coolio12 on Jul 13, 2011 2:11 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

tough call

but id do almost anything to rid myself of that pesky student debt. It all depends on the person, financial situation and loyalty/affection towards the team.

For most vikes fans, imagine catching joe mauers 3,000th hit in target field. then what would you do? A lot of MN folks would call you greedy and you’d be a target.

all in all, I’d ask to have some time to think it over. My guess is you could work something out to cash in whilest maintaining some integrity.

by redhearring on Jul 13, 2011 2:16 PM CDT reply actions

184 million reasons...

to not give a golden egg to a millionaire.

http://drawingwalks.wordpress.com/

by YankeeViking on Jul 13, 2011 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Right thing?

Maybe Jeter could’ve been super classy like Maris. When presented with the 61 HR ball he told the fan to sell it.

Or maybe the super classy thing would’ve been to donate it to Cooperstown and Jeter can visit it like every other baseball fan.

http://drawingwalks.wordpress.com/

by YankeeViking on Jul 13, 2011 3:09 PM CDT reply actions

i would have

gone to souveneer stand got another ball put a bat scuff on it then given that ball to jeter.then when the irs comes a knocking i can say it was a gift from yanks since the real ball is still in my possesion.

by skol viking on Jul 13, 2011 3:19 PM CDT reply actions

They use marked balls for any milestone hits nowadays.

http://drawingwalks.wordpress.com/

by YankeeViking on Jul 13, 2011 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions

I would

Sell it,250k in a lump sum goes along ways though I admire his values and sticking to them. I just aint wired that way,now drop your wallet or your car breaks down,ill return your wallet,stop see if I can help without looking for gain.But a payday that big falls in my lap,gotta take care of buisness.

by speedlod on Jul 13, 2011 8:47 PM CDT reply actions

WTG Yankees

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Fan-who-returned-New-York-Yankees-Derek-Jeter-3000th-baseball-getting-baseball-card-071311

Not a fan of the Yankees, but I think this should make any Yankees fan pretty damn proud of your team.

**Rupert for ProBowl 2012!**

by LeeleeX on Jul 14, 2011 9:09 AM CDT reply actions

Nice story!

by abba7 on Jul 14, 2011 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions

too bad nobody collects baseball cards anymore...

…i have about 250 Frank Thomas cards collecting dust in a box :-/

as for the baseball, i think it’s easy for a non-Yankees fan to say “sell it”…i know i would. but then i try to imagine if i had caught a milestone ball from Kirby, what would i do?? i’d like to say i’d exchange it for something, but $$ is too damn tempting, especially in this economic climate.

perhaps i’d consider exchanging it for life-long box suite season tickets…hrrm…

by rj-b on Jul 14, 2011 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions