Suing for Bond's 700th ball

[MrBug708]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in the dispute over who is the rightful owner of the ball Barry Bonds hit for his 700th home run.

The hearing will be in San Francisco County Superior Court, according to Daniel Horowitz, the attorney representing Steve Williams. Williams is the Giants fan who ended up with the prized ball during a melee in the left-center field bleachers at SBC Park on Sept. 17.

Williams was notified that he was being sued by attorneys for Timothy Murphy, who said he pinned the ball underneath his leg during a scrum for it after the baseball struck Murphy's chin. Murphy claims he is the ball's owner because Williams stole it from him while he was in a pile of fans.

Doug Allen, president of MastroNet, a Chicago-based auction company, estimated the ball's worth at ``over six figures.''

It is not the first time fans headed to court over the fate of a Bonds' home run ball. In October 2001, Bonds' record-setting 73rd homer of the season sparked litigation that ended when a judge ordered both men to split the $450,000 the ball fetched.


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So who didn't see this coming?

[cthomer5000]

Only in America!

[stevew]

At this point, MLB needs to claim ownership for the balls that break ruth and aaron's records. Clearly print it on any ticket receipt for the next 2 seasons or more. People could get killed for these things.

[cthomer5000]

At this point, MLB needs to claim ownership for the potential 756 ball. Clearly print it on any ticket receipt for the next 2 seasons or more. People could get killed for that one.
Then lawyers will be suing claiming that a 100 year precedent has been established, and that supercedes and rule MLB made concerning the # 756 ball.

[Buzzbee]

If I was MLB I would put up nets similar to the ones they use for field goals in football. It hits the net, its a homerun. Only for a ball breaking Ruth's or especially Aaron's record.

Would probably be cost prohibitive since you don't know when or where he might hit it, if he gets there. Just thinking out loud.

[JeffNights]

One can only hope he breaks the record by hitting in a park that has bullpens in the outfield, or some other barrier that seperates the seats from the field....just like Hank's shot

[Vince]

It would be great if he hit it into the bay...but can you imagine the plethora of people on boats, canoes and other such nonsense once he got close?

[Ragone]

Someone will probably drown if he hits it into the bay..

I do like the netting idea... could just cover the right and left field sides like they do behind home plate now.. that way the ball just rolls off onto the field...

Its getting real tiring watching idiots fight over baseballs and such, you go to the games to watch history.. not make your own..

[Surtt]

So if Daniel Horowitz looses is it felony theft and 10 years in the big house?