George Lombard’s storybook moment avoided a polarizing overcast.
Infamous MLB ballhawk Zack Hample — whose home run-catching antics draw great scorn in some corners — came within inches of catching the Yankees’ top prospect first career home run Tuesday night in The Bronx.
Hample, standing in the aisle in the left-field seats at Yankee Stadium, reached to his right with his glove in an attempt to somehow corral the ball amid a sizable group of fellow ball-seekers during the Yankees’ 2-0 win over the Cardinals.
Lombard’s solo blast appeared to hit at least one fan’s hand inches away from Hample and instead landed in the glove of Bruce Roberts.
Roberts, a Utah resident, reportedly attended the game with his family to celebrate his 12-year-old son Cash’s birthday, according to The Athletic.
He ultimately traded the ball for signed balls and a meet-and-greet with Lombard.
“No-brainer,” Roberts told The Athletic. “They were really generous about it.”
That Hample did not land the prized souvenir elicited celebration in some corners of social media due to his polarizing personality.
Some do not approve of his actions, although even the biggest of haters would point out that he has a knack for somehow always being in the right spot.
There’s a skill in being able to somehow be in the right spot for a home run ball from a rookie who did not have a major-league hit to his name yet.
But there are allegations from some against Hample about how he maneuvers his way into spots where he can land the ball, including whether it’s fair game to move in front of children.
Had Hample caught the ball, he may have had another awkward showdown with the Yankees.
Hample caught Alex Rodriguez’s 3000th hit in 2015 — a home run — and initially would not return it to the ex-Yankees slugger despite attempts to broker a deal.
He finally gave Rodriguez the ball in exchange for a $150,000 charity donation, plus a signed bat and ball, according to MLB.com.
“Something kind of went off in my head at that point, and I thought, ‘Hmmm, all right, a few hours ago there was no way I was giving it back,’” Hample said at the time of the Yankees being willing to donate to his charity, according to the outlet. “When that generous offer was made by (Yankees president) Mr. (Randy) Levine, I thought, ‘All right, now I have to consider that.’
“Really, the thing that stuck out in my mind was how kind the Yankees were and how generous, and how well they treated me. I really was thinking Pitch In for Baseball and how I could use the situation to help them.”
