Lucky Fan is Twice In Right Spot (same guy catches grand slam and winning home run balls)

Houston Chronicle ^ | Oct. 10, 2005 | LEE CEARNAL

[RedWhiteBlue]

Chris Burke's homer might not have been the only history-maker in Sunday's 18-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves. The fan who caught it — Shaun Dean of Porter — also caught Lance Berkman's grand slam shot in the eighth.

Dean, 25, was sitting in the second row of the Crawford boxes. A client had given tickets to Joslin Construction, where he is comptroller.

"I never caught one in a game before," he said.

But with one out in the eighth, with the bases loaded and the Astros down 6-1, Berkman hit his line drive. Fortunately, Dean was wearing a glove.

"It came right at me," he said, "I just reached over and caught it."

Later — about three hours — Burke came to the plate with two out in the 18th. When he connected, the drive was not on as direct a line as Berkman's but Dean said "it was all just a blur ... (it) came more toward my father-in-law, and he just leaned over and I reached down and caught it."

Soon afterward, "an usher came down and talked to me." He told Dean that the Astros normally offer cash and other considerations to fans who return special home-run balls to the players who hit them.

He said he probably would give the ball to Burke, since the homer made history, for the club and for Major League Baseball, since it ended the longest playoff game ever.

On the way out of the park, Dean was an instant celebrity.

"Everyone was congratulating me, patting me on the back," he said. "I had several people say I should buy a lottery ticket or go to Vegas."

[RedWhiteBlue]

I searched every way I could think of and didn't find this posted.

What are the odds of this happening? What a lucky guy!

[Pan_Yan]

ping

[Hildy]

A bizarre postscript to a bizarre game!!!

[Hildy]

A bizarre postscript to a bizarre game!!!

[Hildy]

He told Dean that the Astros normally offer cash and other considerations to fans who return special home-run balls to the players who hit them.

How much do you think they get?

[Hildy]

He told Dean that the Astros normally offer cash and other considerations to fans who return special home-run balls to the players who hit them.

How much do you think they get?

[gobucks]

"What are the odds of this happening?"

Well, roughly 10,000 to one for a single ball. But to do it twice in one night?

Billions and Billions to one.

This was not just unlikely ... it was impossible.

[gobucks]

ok ok ... maybe I overstate it abit....

[RobFromGa]

I think they need to check him for a BallMagnet (tm) or the latest technology BallVac (patent pending)

Signed,
A disgruntled Braves Fan

[gobucks]

...but not by very much.

[gobucks]

...but not by very much.

[MikefromOhio]

depends...

if I were him, I would go for broke and try to get season tickets or something...

generally you will get a jersey or a signed bat or something.

[RobFromGa]

For a person in the first ten rows of the outfield the chances are probably more like one in a thousand of getting a homer ball, for the first few rows of those Crawford boxes probably a little lower. Still the chances of two in the same game are approaching a million to one I'd estimate.

[RedWhiteBlue]

How much do you think they get?

Not enough, I'd bet. The guy was interviewed this afternoon by Chris Baker (local talk radio host), and I think that was something they were going to ask him, but I missed it.

[grjr21]

 

Some people are lucky. Some are UNLUCKY

From  Wikipedia


During an August 17, 1957 game, Ashburn hit a foul ball into the stands and struck spectator Alice Roth, wife of Philadelphia Bulletin sports editor Earl Roth, breaking her nose. After play was resumed, Ashburn hit a ball which struck Roth again while she was being carried away in a stretcher.

[gobucks]

I have taken some math classes in the past. The fact is the probability still seems pretty low.

In fact, even lower when you consider it had to be a different pitcher.

[gobucks]

unreal!!!!

You'd think a movie would have been made of that...

[groanup]

A disgruntled Braves Fan

Did you read the vents in the AJC today? You and I are not the only ones disgruntled. Geeza Pete.

[RobFromGa]

Yeah, that's why I'm sure the guy had a BallMagnet or Ballvac in his backpack to attract the balls...

[ApplegateRanch]

I think they need to check him for a BallMagnet (tm) or the latest technology BallVac (patent pending)

I think he bought his glove from Acme.