Baseballs caught at professional games since 1977
**** 5,056 **** Snag a copy of my book "Taking Home A Piece of the Game"
What has the BALLHAWK been up to???
Sep 01, 2010 05:51AM
http://ballhawk.mlblogs.com/
2010-09-01T12:48:38Z
Updates coming soon ........... 1 MLB game and 2 MiLB games
The last couple of months have been pretty crazy, changing jobs, a visit to my mom who has breast cancer AND is beating it and just a million other things going on as well.
I did manage to make it out to a game at U.S Cellular field in Chicago and then 2 minor league games in Iowa over the past 2 weeks. All 3 games were a lot of fun and I will have posts up for these games in the next couple of days!
I did end up with 2 balls at the cell and a pretty cool story (at least to me) about one of the catches and then 26 baseballs in 2 days at the minor league games in Iowa.
There is a lot coming up over the next month and a half with the end of the regular season and the playoffs. In the next week or so I will be off on a new adventure for a new job as well!You just have to love working in baseball, it takes you all over the place!
Stay tuned!!
2010-08-25T18:29:14Z
41 years old today and still a kid at heart!
So today is my 41st birthday. Over the past few days amongst all the chaos with family things going on I have spent a lot of time scanning some of my fathers old slides, negatives and photos.
It is a long and tedious process that will likely take my a looooooooong time!
I just thought today I would share some of what I have scanned in! All of the photos below are watermarked to protect them and were scanned from the ORIGINAL 35mm slides!
2010-08-25T18:56:07Z
As many of you know Zack Hample and I are friends. We have a fun rivalry when it comes to chasing balls. We kindly argue our ways of getting baseballs etc. We were just featured in the Sports Illustrated article "Flight of the Ballhawks" as well.
So today I was checking out the page on Amazon for my book "Taking Home A Piece Of The Game' and what do I see???
Check it out!
No there is no problem buying these two books together!! lolYou can buy both of our books together for $15.57 plus shipping! Just check out the link to my book on the top of the page here!
2010-08-20T16:53:04Z
If you just found me through the Sports Illustrated article and you want to learn more .........
Check out my book available on Amazon.com! BUY IT using the link above!!!
Have you ever wished that you were the guy or girl catching the milestone home run ball? Have you always wanted to get autographs at a baseball game and didn't know how to go about it? Now there is a book out there that will help every baseball fan do it.
"Taking Home A Piece Of The Game" is for every fan that hopes to get an autograph, catch a foul ball or grab game used items at a Major League Baseball game. Now there is a book out there that will help every baseball fan do it.
Major League Ballhawk, John Witt gives fan's the information needed to accomplish all of this. John Witt has caught 4,868 baseballs at Major League games over the past 32 years. 2,829 of those baseballs were caught at regular season MLB games and 99 of those baseballs were game home runs. Witt has also collected 1000's of autographs, game used items and other various goodies as well. With his information, tips and stories of his greatest catches he hopes to help and inspire future collectors.
Taking Home A Piece Of The Game, the Revised Edition is a fan's guide on how to get cool stuff at a Major League Baseball game. Inside you will find the essential items to take to the ballpark. It also helps put together a plan of attack for a day at the ballpark. It even has a new Spring Training Section that includes tips and information to help you plan a spring training trip and how to make the most of each day.
"Taking Home A Piece Of The Game almost guarantees that fanswill take home a baseball, an autograph and/or game used items from every Major League Baseball game that they attend.
One of the interesting aspects of the book is where Witt shares stories about some of the more memorable home run balls that he has caught. Witt's biggest moment came on September 13, 1998 when John grabbed Sammy Sosa's 61st home run of the season on Waveland Avenue outside of Wrigley Field in Chicago. Witt has also caught home runs hit by Eddie Murray from both sides of the plate in the same game in 1987, the last roof-top home run at Old Comiskey Park and even a Mike Schmidt home run ball at his first ever Dodger game in LA.
In the back of the book there are photos of some of the "Pieces of the Game" that Witt snagged in 2008. John also offers information on "Ballhawking 101" which is where fans can go to a baseball game to put all of the tips and information to use. Witt even guarantees that fans will get a baseball at the game or the fan will receive a full 100% refund of the "Ballhawking 101" fee.
Taking Home A Piece Of The Game - the revissed edition is currently available through createspace.com at https://www.createspace.com/3360721 and should be available on Amazon.com by February 1, 2009 - $4.95 (paperback)
New- Revised Edition - Spring 2009
Publication Date: Jan 15, 2009
ISBN/EAN13: 1440472971 / 9781440472978
Page Count: 90
Binding Type: US Trade Paper
Trim Size: 6? x 9?
Language: English
Color: Black and White
Related Categories: Sports & Recreation / Baseball / General
2010-08-12T01:45:44Z
For those of you just finding my blog for the first time .... WELCOME!!
After looking at my website stats today I noticed a lot more traffic to my MLBlog and to my website .... www.mlballhawk.com . I am sure this is because of the Sports Illustrated article I mentioned in my last post!
First I want to welcome everyone to my MLBlog which is simulcast on my website as well.
So now a little background on me and my ballhawking. In 1977 while at a game with my parents and their friends I got a ball during batting practice. I was in a horrible position to get a ball but got lucky when a security guard stuck out his foot and the ball jumped over the people in the first row and into my glove. Later in that same game Chet Lemon was playing centerfield and threw a warm up ball back towards the bat boy. The ball got past the bat boy and ended up on a tarp by the bullpen. I leaned over the wall and grabbed it! So my first official game as a Ballhawk and I ended up with 2 baseballs.
After that I was always chasing baseballs, I can remember my first game ball as well. It was a foul ball down the 1st base line at Old Comiskey Park in Chicago. The ball went about 3 rows above the aisle and into the seats. I ran up to where aisle near where the ball went in and low and behold the ball rolled right down under the seats to me. I believe this was a game in 1979.
My first game home run was a Mike Dave (A's) home run ball that went into the upper deck at Old Comiskey Park in 1986. Ironically over the past 15 years I have worked in minor league baseball and got the chance to work with Mike as he was the hitting coach in Mobile AL when I was the clubhouse manager there in 2002.
That was the first of 101 game home runs that I have caught over the past 34 summers. Some of the more memorable home run catches are:
SAMMY SOSA's 61st HR in 1998 - the Last Roof Top HR at Old Comiskey Park hit by Ron Kittle in 1990 - Derek Jeter HR in the 2003 ALCS on Lansdowne St Garage in Boston - Kevin Mitchell HR during the 1989 NLCS on Waveland Ave. - Bob Boones 100th career HR - Dave Winfields 450th HR - Mike Schmidts 523rd HR at my very first Dodger game at Dodger Stadium and many others!
So there you have a quick summary! Don't forget that I am raising money for Mothers Against Drunk Driving again this season and you can easily help out and make a pledge or find out more information by going to my website at www.mlballhawk.com or to www.baseballs4madd.com
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS or would you like to go to a game with me???
Just email me at JWITT@MLBALLHAWK.COM
Stay tuned as I update my blog with my recent ballpark trips!
What has the BALLHAWK been up to???
Sep 01, 2010 05:51AM
2010-09-01T12:48:38Z
Updates coming soon ........... 1 MLB game and 2 MiLB games
The last couple of months have been pretty crazy, changing jobs, a visit to my mom who has breast cancer AND is beating it and just a million other things going on as well.
2010-08-25T18:29:14Z
41 years old today and still a kid at heart!
So today is my 41st birthday. Over the past few days amongst all the chaos with family things going on I have spent a lot of time scanning some of my fathers old slides, negatives and photos.
2010-08-25T18:56:07Z
As many of you know Zack Hample and I are friends. We have a fun rivalry when it comes to chasing balls. We kindly argue our ways of getting baseballs etc. We were just featured in the Sports Illustrated article "Flight of the Ballhawks" as well.
2010-08-20T16:53:04Z
If you just found me through the Sports Illustrated article and you want to learn more .........
Check out my book available on Amazon.com! BUY IT using the link above!!!
Have you ever wished that you were the guy or girl catching the milestone home run ball? Have you always wanted to get autographs at a baseball game and didn't know how to go about it? Now there is a book out there that will help every baseball fan do it.
"Taking Home A Piece Of The Game" is for every fan that hopes to get an autograph, catch a foul ball or grab game used items at a Major League Baseball game. Now there is a book out there that will help every baseball fan do it.
Major League Ballhawk, John Witt gives fan's the information needed to accomplish all of this. John Witt has caught 4,868 baseballs at Major League games over the past 32 years. 2,829 of those baseballs were caught at regular season MLB games and 99 of those baseballs were game home runs. Witt has also collected 1000's of autographs, game used items and other various goodies as well. With his information, tips and stories of his greatest catches he hopes to help and inspire future collectors.
Taking Home A Piece Of The Game, the Revised Edition is a fan's guide on how to get cool stuff at a Major League Baseball game. Inside you will find the essential items to take to the ballpark. It also helps put together a plan of attack for a day at the ballpark. It even has a new Spring Training Section that includes tips and information to help you plan a spring training trip and how to make the most of each day.
"Taking Home A Piece Of The Game almost guarantees that fanswill take home a baseball, an autograph and/or game used items from every Major League Baseball game that they attend.
One of the interesting aspects of the book is where Witt shares stories about some of the more memorable home run balls that he has caught. Witt's biggest moment came on September 13, 1998 when John grabbed Sammy Sosa's 61st home run of the season on Waveland Avenue outside of Wrigley Field in Chicago. Witt has also caught home runs hit by Eddie Murray from both sides of the plate in the same game in 1987, the last roof-top home run at Old Comiskey Park and even a Mike Schmidt home run ball at his first ever Dodger game in LA.
In the back of the book there are photos of some of the "Pieces of the Game" that Witt snagged in 2008. John also offers information on "Ballhawking 101" which is where fans can go to a baseball game to put all of the tips and information to use. Witt even guarantees that fans will get a baseball at the game or the fan will receive a full 100% refund of the "Ballhawking 101" fee.
Taking Home A Piece Of The Game - the revissed edition is currently available through createspace.com at https://www.createspace.com/3360721 and should be available on Amazon.com by February 1, 2009 - $4.95 (paperback)
New- Revised Edition - Spring 2009
Publication Date: Jan 15, 2009
ISBN/EAN13: 1440472971 / 9781440472978
Page Count: 90
Binding Type: US Trade Paper
Trim Size: 6? x 9?
Language: English
Color: Black and White
Related Categories: Sports & Recreation / Baseball / General
2010-08-12T01:45:44Z
For those of you just finding my blog for the first time .... WELCOME!!
After looking at my website stats today I noticed a lot more traffic to my MLBlog and to my website .... www.mlballhawk.com . I am sure this is because of the Sports Illustrated article I mentioned in my last post!
First I want to welcome everyone to my MLBlog which is simulcast on my website as well.
So now a little background on me and my ballhawking. In 1977 while at a game with my parents and their friends I got a ball during batting practice. I was in a horrible position to get a ball but got lucky when a security guard stuck out his foot and the ball jumped over the people in the first row and into my glove. Later in that same game Chet Lemon was playing centerfield and threw a warm up ball back towards the bat boy. The ball got past the bat boy and ended up on a tarp by the bullpen. I leaned over the wall and grabbed it! So my first official game as a Ballhawk and I ended up with 2 baseballs.
After that I was always chasing baseballs, I can remember my first game ball as well. It was a foul ball down the 1st base line at Old Comiskey Park in Chicago. The ball went about 3 rows above the aisle and into the seats. I ran up to where aisle near where the ball went in and low and behold the ball rolled right down under the seats to me. I believe this was a game in 1979.
My first game home run was a Mike Dave (A's) home run ball that went into the upper deck at Old Comiskey Park in 1986. Ironically over the past 15 years I have worked in minor league baseball and got the chance to work with Mike as he was the hitting coach in Mobile AL when I was the clubhouse manager there in 2002.
That was the first of 101 game home runs that I have caught over the past 34 summers. Some of the more memorable home run catches are:
SAMMY SOSA's 61st HR in 1998 - the Last Roof Top HR at Old Comiskey Park hit by Ron Kittle in 1990 - Derek Jeter HR in the 2003 ALCS on Lansdowne St Garage in Boston - Kevin Mitchell HR during the 1989 NLCS on Waveland Ave. - Bob Boones 100th career HR - Dave Winfields 450th HR - Mike Schmidts 523rd HR at my very first Dodger game at Dodger Stadium and many others!
So there you have a quick summary! Don't forget that I am raising money for Mothers Against Drunk Driving again this season and you can easily help out and make a pledge or find out more information by going to my website at www.mlballhawk.com or to www.baseballs4madd.com
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS or would you like to go to a game with me???
Just email me at JWITT@MLBALLHAWK.COM
Check out some of these articles about Major League Ballhawk, John Witt!
BALLHAWKING 101
Would you like to learn all the tricks of getting a baseball at each and every game that you go to?? Email me at jwitt@mlballhawk.com and go to a game with me! There is a small fee but that is simply for my time and tickets to the game!
If we go to the game and neither of us get a baseball then I will refund the fee!
