Boston Red Sox fans react to spectators who caught Masataka Yoshida’s first MLB home run ball refusing to give it to him: "Ban them from Fenway"
Masataka Yoshida hit his first home run as a member of the Boston Red Sox on Monday night. Then things got awkward.
While such a milestone usually ends up with the player receiving the ball, in this case, the family that received it wasn't giving it up. While the Red Sox reportedly "tried hard" by offering tickets, autographs and collectibles, the family did not part with Yoshida's prize ball.
The Red Sox tried hard but the family that caught Masataka Yoshida’s first MLB HR decided to keep the baseball.
Red Sox Nation is not a good group of people to cross, and many lashed out at the spectators who took the ball home rather than trading it so Yoshida could have a cherished memento. It's probably best for the people possessing the ball to not brag about it to any Boston Red Sox or Masataka Yoshida fans anytime soon – or ever.
@BostonStrong_34 Ban them from Fenway tbh
@BostonStrong_34 Absolute joke imo. How insufferable of a person do you have to be to keep that ball. If your not selling it then what’s the point?
@BostonStrong_34 Losers.
Yoshida's homer traveled 390 feet into the Green Monster seats that overlook left field at Fenway Park. The fact that the ball was not caught cleanly and instead was picked up off the ground as a matter of pure chance only incensed Red Sox fans further as to why the spectators wouldn't give it up.
@BostonStrong_34 If he caught it, suuuuuure. But it was picked up off on the ground. I can understand the excitement - but I’m not seeing the attachment here when he probably could’ve got a clubhouse visit and a signed ball from multiple players. I am sad.
@BostonStrong_34 To top it off the kid didn’t even catch the ball it was given to him by another fan.
Other fans pointed out that the spectators will have a difficult time selling the ball as it was not authenticated. Not many would-be purchasers will be convinced by a promise that a ball was in fact Masataka Yoshida's first home run ball without authentication.
@BostonStrong_34 Blown it. No one from the Sox will help them authenticate it. They should have done a deal and been decent about it. That ball will be worthless to anyone but them now 🤷🏼♂️
@BostonStrong_34 Without authentication that ball is useless. Once they took it outside the stadium, they can’t claim later that it is the actual ball.
Many Boston Red Sox fans questioned the fandom of the spectators holding on to what they deem to be Yoshida's rightful property. Others would have been more than happy to return the ball in exchange for a variety of team swag.
@BostonStrong_34 I just don’t understand why the family wouldn’t want like a signed Masa baseball and some other gear.. they said it was because it was their first experience.. I feel like signed gear would mean more than just one ball. Maybe that is just me but the whole situation is strange 🤷♂️
@BostonStrong_34 that’s so weird man you can easily get free tickets and a signed bat or ball for stuff like that plus getting to meet him
@BostonStrong_34 Joke. Give the ball up, and in return give the family tickets and some signed jerseys
Masataka Yoshida off to a good start with Boston Red Sox
Masataka Yoshida, making his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox after playing seven seasons in Japan, is off to a good start. He is hitting .294 with five runs, five RBIs, two walks and a stolen base.
Yoshida signed a five-year, $90 million contract with Boston in December. He then immediately endeared himself to the fanbase by reading a memorized statement in English – a language he had not yet begun to learn – to say hello to Boston.
Speaking through an interpreter, Yoshida told Red Sox beat reporter Carlos Yamazaki that he hopes to one day have the memento:
"I hope that ball is coming back one day. But today we lost. That's more disappointing."