The Keeper of the Historic Griffey Balls
Ken Griffey Jr. got a chance to pinch hit last night but didn't see any hittable pitches. Major League Baseball exchanges you're typical normal balls for specially marked "authenticated" balls when Junior comes to bat with the chance to hit 600. If your curious about the ball marking process, let Tom McCarthy explain the ball exchange in this short video clip. Pat Burrell's bomb after the jump.
>>See Also: Griffey's 600 HR Ball Worth a Buck or Two
Phone conversation between umpires...
"I'm holding Ken Griffey's balls!"
"Uh... really?"
"Yeah, I've got them in my hands right now!"
"Where are you going to keep them?"
"In my ball sack."
"...I gotta go."
Posted by: Chamomiles Davis | Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Another useless and annoying disturbance brought to us by the fat slob that is Tom McCarthy. Considering the fact that he and Sarge never shut the hell up during the 4th and 5th innings, you'd think this popinjay would exhaust all possible talking points. But no, we still must suffer through one or two irredeemable "special reports" from "T-Mac" who is standing by from some remote part of the stadium. Has anyone's baseball viewing experience ever been augmented in the slightest way by anything Tom McCarthy has ever said?
Also, with the barrage of milestone home runs that have been hit in the past decade, is there a single baseball fan out there that doesn't know about how MLB uses different baseballs when a player is on the precipice of a historic home run?
Fire Tom McCarthy and Gary Matthews, and bring LA back to TV!
Posted by: pilgrim | Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 11:25 AM
I second that motion.
Posted by: MikeY | Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 11:34 AM
"Popinjay"! I cherish you, pilgrim.
Posted by: Clare | Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Isn't Tom Mccarthy heir apparent to Harry Kalas? You may not be enjoying phillies tv at all in a couple years if thats the case.
Posted by: Pete D | Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 11:45 AM
They should go whole hog on interviewing T-Mac from remote parts of the stadium; he could come in wearing Steve Irwinesque gear, affecting an Australian accent and throwing out the occasional "crikey!" or "look at this beauty!".
Hey, it can't be worse than what we're subjected to now, right?
Posted by: Loqiel | Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 12:01 PM
The parts of the stadium should become more and more obscure and remote. Women's bathrooms, inside concession stands, under the field, etc.
Posted by: John | Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Definitely time to bring back LA, he's the man!http://www.the700level.com/2005/07/i_was_at_the_mo.html
Posted by: Scott R | Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 12:18 PM
"This is Tom McCarthy, I decided to interrupt the game and stand on Ashburn Alley between two Jenkintown garbage men to do an ad for the new ball park apparel store, just in case you miss the commercials between innings, here is another during the game, oops, you just missed a stolen base"
Posted by: Brayn | Wednesday, June 04, 2008 at 12:19 PM
you're / your, etc.
Every announcing team feels it necessary to mention the switching of Griffey's balls every time he's at the plate. Fox did it, FSN does it every other game, Comcast seems to have no problem doing it. Like pilgrim said, pretty much everyone knows commemorative balls are used for milestones such as #600.
Then again, the announcers have to find a way to fill nine innings with meaningful commentary. Sometimes all they can talk about is the ball.
Posted by: Jon | Thursday, June 05, 2008 at 09:13 AM