As one of the oldest ballparks in the country, Wrigley Field is no stranger to tradition. One of my all-time favorite fan-traditions, however, has got to be the ceremonial throwing back of an opponent’s home run ball.
There’s really nothing better than the slight emotional uptick you get at the stadium when one of your own tosses that garbage home run ball back onto the field, as if to say “Get this sh*t outta here!”Â
Just don’t try it at Coors Field, they’ll literally throw you (and your son) out.
Well, back in 2014, one veteran of the Bleachers made a truly OUTSTANDING catch over the railing in left-center field and then completed the tradition of throwing the ball back onto the field … or did he?
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First of all – that catch, right?
Study this photo by @NuccioDiNuzzo /Chicago Tribune .. EVERY part of it is awesome. pic.twitter.com/Se3sCPnAZ8
— Chicago Trib Photo (@ChiTribPhoto) August 12, 2014
That is honestly one of the craziest fan catches I’ve ever seen, and it’s not like he’s some sprite young teenager, either. But that’s besides the point.
After making the fantastic catch, the fan appears to throw the ball back on the field … except he didn’t. He pulled out an extra ball he uses with his dog, and kept the souvenir for himself!
MLB.com caught up to the 65-year-old retiree Mike Pullin, who had had this to say:
“I saw the ball coming, and it’s a pretty easy catch for me,” Pullin told the site, which also said Pullin played softball for 31 years, starring at first base and in left field, and that the ball Pullin threw back is the one his dog plays with.
I’m genuninely impressed. He gets the ball, the fans get their tradition, and everybody wins … except the Cubs. They lost 3-1.