Final Stats: Chad got 21 baseballs. I got 12. We went to 14 major league games.
My personal highlight was snagging a ball on Waveland during the Cubs only playoff game.
I will continue to update this over the winter. But next year it is on, yo. Gonna try to stay in the running the Hamp!
Cheers!
scott
After feeling pretty good about what we were able to accomplish at Cellular, we took the show on the road back to Alexian Field, home of the independent league team Schaumburg Flyers. They were doing a double header tonight. 2 games, 7 innings a peice. Figured we had a chance to get into double digits. Yes, I know, it's not a major league baseball game. But there is definately a thrill to it.
I am having a little difficulty recounting it all at this point, but I know we got 6 balls in the first game. The game wound up going 15 innings. 2-1 was the final score. And both the original runs were scored in the first inning. So it was a long, pointless and boring game. But it was fun chasing the balls that left the stadium.
By the time the second game started, at 11pm, there were 37 people left in the ball park. Every single foul ball was ours. And there were only 3. Why couldn't this be the day when someone fouls like, 17 pitches in a row? Oh well. It was a good day. Saw 22 innings of baseball for 3 bucks. 14 mosquito bites and we returned home around 1am.
Monday was definately a day we had been waiting for. Another chance to hawk at US Cellular. We figured the attendence would be low because the lowly Royals were coming in. The battle for last place! WOO! What we didn't count on was the monsoon that parked itself over Chicago last weekend. It rained for 19 straight hours and everything was saturated. We had a feeling that there would be no BP but you never know. We went to Pro Jersey sports store in Downers Grove and picked up the only solitary Royals hat we could find. They only had one, so after we got near US Cellular we stopped by the Granstand sports store and Chad picked up his hat. We had a good solid hour to kill, so we stopped by the Shallers Pump bar and tavern for a quick beer. That is one of the old, southside Bridgeport bars Sox fans have been going to for decades. I am a Cubs fan so I had no idea until Monday. It was a nice little bar. We didn't want to stand in the rain at the gate too long.
The rain stopped right at 4:30pm, so we headed to Gate 5. This is the gate that spits us out closest to the outfield. Tossed the old baseball around a bit waiting for the gates, and when they opened we headed up the ramp.
Unfortunately, the ushers had other ideas. I guess at US Cellular, you cannot buy the cheap 8 dollar upperdeck seats and go on the main concourse for BP and that threw me a little. We convinced the ushers that we were just going down to watch BP, and they let us by after a little bit of haggling. Of course, once we got on the concourse, our fears were realized. No batting practice for us. If we were to get any baseballs, they would have to be throw to us from players, or caught during the game. Since we are new to the whole ballhawk thang, being shut out seemed like a distinct possibilty.
The good news was we had our Royals hats on. And there were a handful of players stretching and tossing. I ran down to the first base side and spotted a coach. I just asked for the ball, and he threw it right away. I was in for 30 seconds, I was already up one ball. So much for being shut out.
Chad went to work the dugouts, and was having no real success. I got my second a couple minutes later from Brian Banninster (as well as an autograph on my Royals hat). Had a brief discussion with him as well. It is fun to talk to big league ball players.
Chad still wasn't having much luck at the dugouts, as a wave of kids kept him from even talking to anyone. So he reversed field and headed to the bullpens where he got a ball thrown up to him by Coach Jeff Kendall, who happens to be the father of current Cubs catcher Jason Kendall. Ball three was achieved.
Chad got his second, and our last of the day, from Tony Pena Jr. He is the son of former big league catcher Tony Pena. I was talking to him for a while but he gave his warm up ball to a kid. Which, I guess is ok. I guess. Actually, no. I hate kids. They are just annoying. Anyway, he motioned to the dugout to get another ball but they didn't have any laying around. So no ball right away. Right before the game was to start Chad called in to the dugout to Tony, and he grabbed a nice ball and threw it about 75 feet from the dugout right to Chad's glove. HUZZAH!
Immediately afterwards, we encountered another stupid usher who tried to kick us out. Chad gave them whole 'we know where we sit, its over there. we'll move' and the usher thought he succeeded. However, he really didn't. We just moved about 4 sections over for the national anthem. Afterwards we worked on plans to get baseballs, but there just weren't many hit our way.
In the 2nd inning we had a chance encounter with a season ticket holder who was sitting behind us. Turns out, he has the entire row behind us, owns a skybox, has Bears season tickets and is friends with Adam Levine from Maroon 5. It was definately an intresting conversation.
We spent the rest of the game moving closer and attempting to get in line for foul balls. In the 9th inning, Bobby Jenks came on to establish a new Major League Record. And he failed. And I felt good. Is that bad?
It was definately a good day. 4 balls. And it doesn't even begin to explain how the following day would go.
So out of sheer boredom, a sore wrist, and a sore arm due to a fist fight with a drunk for no apparent reason, Chad and I decided to take a couple days off from home run derby and go catch a few baseball games up at Alexian Field, home of the Schuamburg Fliers of the Northern League. Alexian Field is a beautiful field, built on the plot of land where the Cubs were considering moving to if the City wouldn't allow night games back in the 80s. In that respect, they built the playing part of the field to the exact size of Wrigley. And every dimension of the field is exact. It is a pretty fun place to catch a ballgame.
We left the crib about 5pm, not expecting to catch BP or ballhawk, but it took us only 25 mins to get there so we did catch BP. Naturally, like true ballhawks, it immediately became a 'how can I get a ball' discussion. We headed to the lawn in right field and got two balls hit right to us. We then got a third tossed to us by some unknown minor league ball player. It was kinda funny. We then walked around for about an hour, checking for hidden balls but found none.
We took our seats right behind home plate and waited for foul balls. We wanted game balls, not 'Minor League Practice' balls. We soon figured out that almost all foul balls either ricochet off the facade or just leave the park all together. Which wasn't too cool because we were inside the park. We got no real chances on any live foul balls, so we left the park near the end of the game to see if we can snag the ones that left the ballpark. However, all the balls were accounted for. We left with only snagging three, but we had a better idea on how to approach it the following day.
Day two was much better from start to finish. The game plan was simple. Get there for BP, talk to some ushers about the re-entry policy, and snag 100 baseballs. Well, at least more than three. We arrive for BP and notice there is actually a line to get in today. And tickets were much more expensive. A whole $5.50 instead of $3.00 for lawn. We got in line and when the gates open we head again to the right field lawn section. BP was going on, but it was starting to rain. We knew our chances were limited. So we were just hoping luck was on our side. It was. 2 balls in 7 minutes. They then shut down BP as it was pouring.
During BP I remembered that someone hit a home run by the scoreboard in left field. So in the rain, we walked behind the fence and low and behold. Ball 3 was sitting there. Unfortunatley, we had to now wait almost a full hour for the rain to stop and the grounds crew to tend to the field. The start of the game didn't happen until 7:55pm. We decided to walk around and plot our escape routes. We chatted up an usher who indicated that re-entry is allowed for smokers, so that was our way out of the ballpark when a foul ball left the field. We waited and noticed the same things today, all foul balls that are hit at all leave the park. So in the third inning, the first one left. I stayed behind to watch the game and Chad went outside. That was until a second left immediately after so I sprint outside. There were a handful of people looking for the first ball, and I don't think it made it off the roof. But the second one did and I knew where it was. So I ran out, looked through the bushes and there it was! Ball number 4. Chad was still looking and before we could even blink, ball number 5 comes screaming out of the park and hits about two feet in front of me. I scramble and retrieve ball number 5.
We head back inside for a minute, until another ball flies straight out the back of the stadium. Chad darts to look for that ball. As he was leaving the next pitch flies out as well. Someone was leaving the park and retrieved it but flipped it to Chad. Ball 6. Some woman got the second one that left but while we were discussing the 6th ball number 7 comes out of the park and lands rigt in front of Chad in a bush. He pulls out a ball, but it wasn't a pro ball. It was some random ball sitting in the bush. Right next to it however was This is too easy. As we are walking up the stairs to head in another ball comes out, and an old man and kid were looking for it. I showed the old man where the ball was and he gave it to his son. How cute.
So all that action took place in about 20 mins. We head back inside and basically just wait for more balls. But there is nothing really happening until the last inning. One ball goes over, and there are a whole mess of people outside. Chad sees the ball hit the bushes area. When people run over they ask 'Did the ball come out?' -- Chad said 'nah, it stayed on the roof' -- everyone leaves and Chad retrieves ball numero 8.
All in all a fun two days of ballhawking. 11 balls. 7 games balls.
Chad will be updating this at a future point, but he was able to get two balls in BP. One was snagged and one was tossed up to him from Mariner pitcher Jeff Weaver. Good day. Streak continues. Up to 7 major league balls this summer!
Chad will be posting a major update to this BLOG but I wanted to keep them in order, as far as the dates of the games go. I do know, however, that he was shut out in BP but recieved one ball at the end of the game from the Sox bullpen catcher. It was the ball Bobby Jenks was warming up with. He will add to this shortly
The ballpark tour continues. This time I went to Cincinatti to visit one of my old friends, Mary Kate. Due to miscalculation of times, we weren't able to get in early enough to get any ballhawking spots, plus we were to berelgated to stay in our upper deck location. That is ok, I really just wanted to soak in a game at this wonderful ballpark. We arrived and purchased our tickets, and hung outside in their 'fan' section, which had fun statues and what not. Took some pictures which will be displayed later. After we got inside we took a little break to catch a beer at the clubhouse style bar they had. It was so hot, we needed air conditioned and a place to play with our new Red's slinkys.
I am pretty partial to slinkys. It would have been nice to go on a better promotional day, but it was still enjoyable none the less.
This is the view from the upper deck seats. It really isn't bad, all things considering. It was pretty high but still you could see the whole field pretty well. We were literlly second to last row. The only bad part is no venders really came up that high until later on in the game. During BP, I sat and kind of stewed because I wanted to be a part of the action. Left field looked pretty difficult because of the upper deck, but right field seemed doable enough. It was ridiculously hot at the ball park but what do you expect from Cincinatti in summer? The sun was just killing us. But after some time, we moved into a nice shadow and it was time to enjoy the game.
First on the agenda was of course, the obligatory walk around the park to check out the views and of course, all the chances I could have had to ballhawk. Security here is pretty tight, as the Cubs were in town and the stadium is very new. And there aren't the best lines to track foul balls here. But I digress. After awhile of bordom we headed to our seats to stay. The game was about to start. The Cubbies got on the board early and often, D-Lee hit a home run in the first inning, and Soriano hit one in the second. It was a pretty easy game from there on out. With Big Z on the mound, it was going to be an easy victory. So we just kind of relaxed and cheered on the Cubs. MK lives in Cinci, but she is from Florida and has no loyalty to the Reds so I converted her to a Cubs fan. We definately got the obligitory cotton candy and snow cones. 
The game was definately at hand so we took a walk through the concourse. Ate a few hot dogs, went to the fan area to watch some kids throw fast pitch and speed drills. The Cubs wound up winning 8-1, we left the park and headed into downtown Cincinatti where I ran in to an old friend from my band days (Party Time we call him, long story) and then headed back to the suburbs where she lived. All in all, I loved this ballpark. There were more Cub fans than Red fans, the ushers and everyone seemed friendly. The prices for food and beer were WAY high but that is to be expected of a new ball park. I give it 4 stars haha. Chad and I are heading back to the ballpark to hawk sometime before the year is out. It is only a 4 hour drive from Chicago (when you drive 90). So techincally, since this wasn't a ballhawking game, I don't need to report that I didn't get a ball. So the streak continues. HA!
Now being a ballhawk is a pretty fun pasttime. I am learning this as the months go by. I am a die-hard Cub fan, but US Cellular offers cheap games and its a pretty fun time, even if you dislike the Sox. Today's game was a Monday night special. We picked up some 131 level seats from a guy on Craig's List. Craig's List is a haven for those who want tickets, especially ones that will allow you the chance to sang potential game balls.
We arrive right around 4:30pm. Gates for tonights 7:11 start (as I said before, uber-lame) were at 5:35. So we figured we had a good start on getting. But the pay parking lots don't open until 5pm. So we are sitting in line trying to pay for parking, and I just told Chad to run up, get the first spot at Gate 3 and I'll park, and find him. That worked according to plan, and we run to the bleachers as soon as the gates open. I saw one ball lying on the ground from up in the concourse, but someone beat me to it. I ran down to a good spot on the left field foul line, near the bull pen. Chad headed to the bleachers and was going to work awhile on getting a batted ball. The first batted ball I saw comes screaming foul right towards me, carroms off the outer wall and shoots right towards my face! Instinctivly I duck out of the way, and someone snags it about 10 rows behind me. Lost opportunity count at one.
Haggling for balls is hard work, esp. when there are 7 million kids vying for them as well, so I had no luck. Chad was able to make one impressive grab in the outfield and then went to work using Hample's glove trick. It would have worked but he definately dropped his mitt in to the bullpen! Security was being really stupid and wouldn't give him his mitt back. So he grabs mine (I have no idea why I gave it to him, but anyway) and heads back to the bleachers to work the batted balls again. In the meantime, I missed a ball I would have had if I had my mitt and two more balls wound up in the pen, easily would have been grabbed by the glove trick. Missed opportunity count 2, 3, 4, and 5. Finally after some haggling we got Chad's mit back and BP was ending. We went and walked around the ballpark for most of the game. Eventually we found our seats and watched a little of the White Sox losing. We ended up with just that one ball, but the streak continues. All in all, a good day!
I am reposting old blogs to get our current year up-to-date on the new MLBlogs.com website. This is an entry from my personal blog pertaining to the first game / attempt at ballhawking.
Chad had rainout tickets to the Cubs game! It was a makeup game from April 11th. So I was pretty pumped about my first game of the year. We had 4 tickets and he sold two of them. We get to the gate and, uh oh, the tickets are NO GOOD.
At first we were just gonna leave, but we decided to buy some tickets and catch a ballgame. We came early to catch batting practice and try to get some baseballs, and we were resigned to not being able to do that.
But things had to be done. First on the agenda was getting the woman whom he sold the tickets to her monday back. She was understanding and met us at Taco Bell on Addison. And it was at Taco Bell where I had the idea:
Let's use the bogus tickets to get us down to the good seats
So we get to the gate right at 5pm. The gates open up and we use our newly purchased tickets to get into the game. As soon as we get past the gate, we switch to the bogus tickets and make our way to the seats. And initially we have success! The seats were in the 105 level, right behind the Bartman seat. So we line up on the rail and start hounding pro ballplayers, some of whom are younger than us, to give us baseballs. Will Ohman was the Cub in left field and he was a complete jerk. He gave baseballs to hot chicks and kids. That's it. Oh, and he gave the same dude 4 baseballs because he kept saying it was his kids birthday. That was awesome considering he used all his kids and claimed they were all having birthdays AND he didn't even give the balls to his kids. AND HE WAS A SEASON TICKET HOLDER. He probably has like, 300 baseballs at this rate. What a joke! Anyway, the Astros came out and took BP and we really went off on their left field fly ball shagger. His jersey said "SUBA", later we find out he is a bullpen assitant. 'Stretch Suba' -- We tried a bunch of ploys like saying we were from Houston and we came 18 hours by van to see the game, but Suba was not giving any balls away. He actually yelled at a Cubs groundcrew member for helping a KID get a ball. Well, the bleacher bums didn't like that all too much so they started calling him "grandpa" -- Pretty sweet. One ball got past Suba and got lost in the Ivy. As soon as the Astros left, Chad went to work on the groundskeeper, they found the ball and gave it to Chad. Success.
We sat and watched the first 3 innings of the game in the 105 seats, then the real ticket holders came. We played dumb and acted like those tickets got us in to the game. The usher really believed us after some good acting on my part, and we were there the whole game. Well, Chad was. I had to go to the bathroom in about the 7th inning and couldn't get back in. So I watched the rest from the new seats. They were fine. Chad definately missed another foul ball that hit off his leg. After the game we ran over by Tater's for a bit and then came home.
All and all not a bad attempt for the first game. The ultimate hope is to be able to get one per game. And we did. The ball was marked up with an H on the sweet spot, but it was definately an offical Rawlings game ball. For the next game, I think we have to plan it out a little better and go in with a game plan. We still have a lot to learn about ballhawking.
The Cubs won the game, and 'Go Cubs Go' was blaring as the drunken masses headed on to Clark Street to get even more wasted. On a Monday. Done and Done.
This is my first post to the mlblogs.com website. I opted to start a blog because after spending a few months reading Zack Hample's, it seemed like to fun and interesting thing to do. First a little background. My name is Scott Sweeney, I am a 29 year old Cub fan from Woodridge, Illinois. Along with my friend, Chad, we spend most of our days either playing baseball, contimplating how to get baseballs from professional players, or working (and while we work, discuss more options for getting baseballs). In my free time, I hang out on the Northside of Chicago, write rock and roll songs, watch the Cubs / Bears / Bulls, and do normal 29 year old dude stuff. This blog will basically just follow our exploits as we attempts to become world famous ballhawks, like our ballhawking idol, Zack Hample (HA!) -- In addition, I'll post Cubs stats, and basically anything else I feel like. Sooo, I guess enjoy?
Yesterday Chad and Jeff went to the Cubs game, which of course we all know they lost 3-2. Security is super tight on weekend games. This was a FOX start time, 12:05 cst, so The Cubs didn't take any BP. With a million screaming kids the odds of getting a ball seemed slim but by doing good research, Chad came up with a ball from new Cub Scott Moore. Moore was warming up and threw it right to him after Chad called him by first name. Nice work.
I am watching today's Cub's game while at work on MLB.com. Their streaming site is pretty decent. Right now they are down 2-0 in the 7th inning. Offensively, there is not much doing. Wasted the only real chance they had when Theriot hit a smash that Petit caught. Soriano was on 2nd with a standup double with two outs. I love Soriano, but he definately watched the ball leave that bat like it was a homer. Come on bro, just put your head down and sprint. You might have had a triple.
Fergie Jenkins sang Take Me Out To The Ballgame and it was pretty poor. I am honestly starting to get sick of the 'celebrity' singers. Sometimes, I don't even know who the heck they are. Lets just have the organ play it and move on, Harry has been dead for 9 years already.
Tomorrow we are ballhawking at US Cellular Field. Getting to BP about 5pm to ensure prime positions and real estate. White Sox are pretty unpopular these days, as Craigslist was just full of people trying to dish off tickets to a 7:11 Monday start. (yes, 7:11. Because the Sox sold the rights to their start times to the chain store 711. That is pretty lame) -- I am not a White Sox fan, in fact, I pretty much hate them. But a pro ball game is a pro ball game. And the Sox have the best deal in baseball. Monday night, upper deck tickets are only $8 dollars. You can't even go to semi-professional games that cheaply. Heck, you can't even purchase a Long Island in Chicago for 8 bucks. So they have one thing going for them. We also are going to try to get down to the left field bleachers. If any balls go into the pen, we have the Hample glove trick on standby.
On Friday, I am going to Cincinatti to catch the Cubs vs Reds at The Great American Ballpark. Should be exciting to ballhawk in a new stadium.
Last Weds Home Run Derby Results: (7-17-07. BHS Field)
Left: 325 Feet. Left Center: 360. Center: 388. Right Center: 360. Right: 331
Chad: 6 Home Runs (in Blue). Scott: 4 (in Red). Jeff: 1 (In White). According to Googleearth, Chads furthers was 391 feet. My furthest was 361 feet. Jeffs was 349 feet. Good work!
Click on the photo to see the home run spots!