Yankees' fan Christian Lopez returns Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit ball without regrets – MLB News
There are certain moments that become history and there are certain actions that become part of history. Derek Jeter hitting his 3,000th hit was a moment that became history and his ardent fan, Christian Lopez, who caught the ball of Jeter’s historic
hit, also became a part of history.
Christian Lopez, having sat along the third-base line, made history on Sunday when he announced to return the ball worth 250,000 dollars and the 23-year-old selfless fan does not have any regret for doing this.
While some other fan might have kept the ball for personal reasons, inspired by the love of the player and game, Lopez says he would return it “100 times” if he caught the ball.
"Every person in the stadium wanted to touch that ball," Lopez said."[But] I would have done it over again 100 times," he said of his giveback. "I think I did the right thing."
His returning the 3,000th hit ball generated exciting debate in the baseball circles. Also, there were hushed rumours that he might well have been coerced into returning the ball.
However, the young fan forcefully denies that. "The Yankees didn't pressure me to give the ball back to Jeter," he insisted. "I just really wanted to give it back for everything the guy has done for us."
All the more interesting is the fact that Lopez was sitting next to his father who also gave it a concerted try to catch the ball, but ended up failing. Raul, Lopez father said, "landed right in my hand, and then it bounced out. I can't believe I dropped
the ball," he said.
In Highland Mills, the town that Lopez proudly belongs to, inhabitants know the young guy and know his good heart. Thus his act does not surprise many.
Much the same, on Sunday, TV cameras captured the scenes where overenthusiastic fans rushed to Lopez, lovingly called a “gentle giant” to shake hands with him for having done what a lot of people could only dream.
While the ball held historic significance and attached to it was a huge sum of money as a valuable memento, Lopez’ voluntary action did not go unrewarded.
The New York Yankees have announced to award the young fan with the free tickets of all 32 upcoming games which amount to no less than 44,800 dollars. Some even insisted he was awarded season tickets for life.
Also, on Sunday, Derek Jeter gave signed bats and balls to the increasingly famous 23-year-old fan as the acknowledgement of his commendable act. While history was in the making, Lopez, of course, went home with double enjoyment: Jeter’s achievement and
his own fame.
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