60¢ LATE SPORTS FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2002 BALL OF CONFUSION TUG OF WAR FOR BONDS’ 73RD HOME RAGES ON: PAGE 156 DAILY NEWS SPORTS

DIAMONDBACKS EXTEND PHILS’ SKID TO 4 SNAKEBITTENSNAKEBITTEN PAGE 158

Arizona’s Junior Spivey hangs onto ball after tagging out on steal attempt. PAUL CONNORS/ BALL OF CONFUSION CLOSEUP OF THE Collecting dust SCRAMBLE While Barry Bonds keeps hitting them out, watches his 73rd home his 73rd homer awaits its day in court run take flight. By MARK KRAM up with No. 73 is a source of ongo- the record of 61 home runs in a [email protected] ing debate in the Bay area, where single season held for 37 years Popov has filed an extraordinary by . Quickly, the HEN ALEX Popov finally lawsuit in order to reclaim pos- asking price topped $1 million, Wsquirmed free from the session of it. Although Hayashi then $2 million as it came down pile that October day at San Fran- would not agree to an interview to two very driven bidders. Alex Popov’s cisco’s Pacific Bell Park, he with the Daily News, he has said The item eventually sold for arm and glove looked like he had been worked $3.005 million to Spawn com- rise above the group to catch over by a piece of farm machin- “I realized 20 or 30 ic-book creator and self-de- the . ery. Blood dripped from the scribed “sports geek” Todd seconds into it that things bridge of his nose. He had a big McFarlane, who appeared to bump on his forehead and small- were getting ugly. All these have had a solid investment er abrasions on his elbows and people were on top of me until Barry Bonds came along knees. Surrounding him was a just a few years later and and suddenly it dawned on noisy crowd of equally disheveled stroked No. 73. fans, their eyes eager with antici- me that they were The Sunday it happened pation as Popov searched his attacking me for the ball.” began as an idyllic California pockets for the ball. Only a few day: Bonds had just crushed Spectators in moments before, it had soared off ALEX POPOV Nos. 71 and 72 that Friday The Arcade area the bat of Giants slugger Barry against the Dodgers, and an of Pac Bell begin to circle the ball. Bonds, the 73rd and final home air of festivity had settled run of his record-breaking sea- publicly that he caught the ball, over Pac Bell on the final son, and had fallen cleanly into only to amend that later to say day of the season. Well the outstretched glove of Popov, that he picked it up off the ground. aware of the extraordinary who was then drawn under by a Hayashi does detail his side on his sum that a Bonds home- wave of charging flesh. Suddenly Web site (See Page 155). run ball could possibly — and he is still not sure what Film from the cameraman on bring at auction, the fans happened — the prized item was the scene clearly shows two in- jammed into The Arcade no longer in his grasp. disputable facts: that Popov in- area beyond the rightfield “Where is it?” someone shout- deed caught the ball and that wall, a place where the ed. Hayashi was involved in the pile lefthanded-hitting Bonds The white streak Quickly, Popov swept the that ensued. Witnesses who have has slammed a large per- in Patrick ground with his eyes and said, “I come forward on behalf of Popov centage of his home runs. Hayashi’s hair is caught it, but somebody took it claim that Popov did not bobble Fans who did not have a evident amid the from me.” the ball, and that Hayashi ticket were crowded on pile of bodies. Seconds passed, then some- crawled toward him and even bit the walkways below, one asked urgently, “Is that the the leg of a child who obstructed while 10,000 others pa- ball?” his path, which Hayashi denies. trolled the blue waters Standing within a few feet of Court proceedings are scheduled of McCovey Cove in Popov was Patrick Hayashi, his for Oct. 7, the 1-year anniversary boats. Kevin Griffin, a glove in one hand and a round of the home run. heating and air condi- white object in his other. With a And Popov said he has no tioning contractor, had self-congratulatory grin on his plans to settle for a 50-50 out-of- told his wife Candi that Patrick Hayashi face, Hayashi displayed the ball court compromise. morning in suburban holds the base- for a television cameraman who “Giving up your property by Burlingame, “Hon, you ball while the had been assigned to that loca- splitting is like rewarding some- know we play the lot- camera also tion. Immediately, security peo- one that mugged you,” said tery. What are the catches Alex ple showed up and ushered Popov, who owns a health food odds of catching the Popov rising to Hayashi away as a group of fans restaurant. “And you would be ball if Barry hits one his knees. assembled around Popov, who condoning behavior that says, today? Come on, what slowly tried to bend his eyeglass- ‘You don’t have to catch the ball, do you say?” Griffin es back into shape. The fans told just attack the guy who does.’ ” said later, “You just him that they had seen what hap- had the feeling that if pened: that he had possession of they pitched to him the ball and that he had been ...... something would hap- stripped of it. They urged him to To understand why this has pen.” Patrick Hayashi holds up report it to the authorities. As se- ended up in the hands of attor- Popov had come the ball for the camera curity personnel converged on neys, you have to begin on a Janu- to Pac Bell with his before being escorted from the scene. the scene, which again appeared ary evening in New York in 1999. younger brother to be on the verge of becoming Up for auction in a room at Madi- Michael; they had unruly, the fans began to chant: son Square Garden was the 70th purchased the tick- “DO THE RIGHT THING! DO home-run ball slammed the previ- ets a few weeks be- THE RIGHT THING!” ous summer by St. Louis slugger ...... Exactly how Hayashi ended Mark McGwire, who had eclipsed See BONDS Page 154 For the Daily News

PAGE 156 DAILY NEWS FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2002 BALL OF CONFUSION

BONDS at that point that he said the ball Continued from Page 156 was removed from his glove. He said he did not see who took it...... “I realized 20 or 30 seconds in- fore. Like everyone else sur- to it that things were getting ug- rounding them, they wore base- ly,” said Popov. “All these people ball gloves and tried to position were on top of me and suddenly it themselves in an opportune dawned on me that they were at- place. Standing near them were tacking me for the ball.” the Griffins, who had come out to Did he ever bobble it any point? The Arcade from their seats Popov said no. along the third-base line; Doug Others corroborated that. Yarris, who had come to the game “Had the ball popped loose, I with his 13-year-old son Travis; would have gone for it like any- and Kathryn Sorensen, who told one else,” said Yarris. “Down in- everyone she worked with at Xe- side the pile I had a clear view of rox that she was going to catch Popov and he had the ball in his the ball. In that Bonds had cho- glove beneath his body. This was sen to sit the previous day — he not a case of there being a loose did pinch — no one was cer- ball that people were scurrying tain if he would play until the bat- around for.” ting order was announced. Griffin added, “All I know is But would they pitch to him? that I saw him catch it and that he A runner was on first when did not bobble it. He had posses- Bonds stepped to the plate in the sion of it for, what? Five seconds? first inning against Dennis Ten? Could have been even longer Springer, the Dodgers because no one can be sure where righthander. When Bonds swat- it was stolen from his glove. He ted an early pitch in the count had possession of it from his glove foul, the fans in The Arcade sud- to his chest to the ground.” denly came alive. Griffin turned So where was Hayashi during to his wife and said excitedly, this donnybrook? Were it not for

“THEY ARE PITCHING TO HARRY HOW/Allsport the fact that he had a very dis- HIM.” Popov positioned himself Barry Bonds circles the bases as the scoreboard records his historic feat while showing the tinctive patch of gray in his hair, close to where Bonds had scrum that was well under way beyond the outfield fence. he surely would have blended in- slammed his 500th home-run to the crowd that swarmed over ball. With his headphones on and saw it coming toward him and Popov, but the ball sailed over the turned way up. Things became Popov. The videotape clearly the broadcast from KNBR blar- said, “Oh, bleep.” He judged that webbing of his glove by 3 feet. chaotic. Within a second or two shows him crawling through the ing into his ear, Popov glanced at it would land some 20 feet to his Popov opened his glove. The of catching the ball and bringing bodies in the pile toward Popov. the fans surrounding him. He left and began charging in that di- ball fell into it with a pop. And he it down to his chest, Popov was Sorensen swore in a court decla- could see that he had a “5- or 6- rection. Sorensen said she “could shouted, “I GOT IT!” blindsided by what he character- ration that she saw Hayashi, in an inch” height advantage on them, not believe her eyes” as the ball “When you look at the video- ized as a “big moving force.” Vio- effort to “reach the baseball,” bite but wondered, “Do I have enough began descending toward her and tape of it, you see that the ball lently, he was thrown to the con- the leg of a child in the pile. She room?” But when the runner on added, “The whole thing just was in the air for 5.7 seconds,” crete and landed on his face and said she heard the child say, first was thrown out stealing, the seemed so surreal.” Standing be- Popov said. “The first second or hip. Bodies fell on top of him, and “Ouch!” then back out of the way base was now open and the count side her was Popov, who also two, you realize the ball was hit, other bodies fell on top of those. as “Hayashi continued digging stood at 3-2. Popov visibly sagged. spotted it off the bat and remem- then it dawns on you that it is Yarris, who also was swept into and then stopped.” Yarris swore “Oh great!” he said with a sigh. bered that at its highest arch the coming in your direction. And you the pileup and came away with a in a court declaration that he saw “Now they’ll just walk him.” And ball “just seemed to sit there in have no time to react. If the ball “half a dozen bruises,” said that “Hayashi on his hands and knees it was just then that Bonds the sky.” On his headphones, had landed 10 or 15 feet on either at that one point “no less than six very near Popov.” He also heard whipped his bat around again and Popov heard the announcer say, side of me, I would not have had a and as many as 15 individuals” a child “yell out in pain,” then saw the Giants announcer exclaimed, “[SHAWN] GREEN GOING play on it. But it was hit right at were on top of Popov. On the Hayashi reach toward Popov and “AND BONDS HITS A LONG BACK . . .” and suddenly, the ball me, and it just so happened I was videotape shot by the local news emerge with “something in his FLY BALL. . . ” dived earthward. Popov said “it taller than everyone else around station, Popov can be heard hand.” Both said that they re- Suddenly, The Arcade became just became bigger and bigger me by a few inches.” shouting: “Get up! Get up! Get up! member Hayashi because of the oddly quiet. “Like someone had and bigger.” Yarris echoed that. “All he had Get up! Help! Help!” Popov said gray patch in his hair. turned the volume way down,” Popov held up his glove. to do was hold his glove up, open he still had the ball at that point. No one appeared to know said Yarris, who added, “The ball So did Sorensen. it and then close it. He did not Pinned to the ground and unable where the ball was as a few helpful seemed to hang in the air forev- And Yarris. have to move a step.” to breathe, he then propped him- ...... er.” Griffin spotted it off the bat, Griffin jumped up in front of Suddenly, the volume was self up with one arm. And it was See BONDS Next Page

GOING, GOING, GOING UP A near-mint condi- Actor Charlie Sheen A central Maryland business- Michael Lasky agrees to A woman who won The ball that hit for tion pays $93,000 for man pays $41,736 after a pay Dan Jones a sum of custody of the Yankee Stadium’s first home run baseball card sells the ball the New nationwide telephone auction $500,000 ($280,000 in an Honus Wagner base- sells for $126,500. at auction for York Mets’ Mookie for the home-run ball that Cal annuity for 20 years) for ball card as part of a $451,000 to hockey Wilson hit through Ripken hit the night he tied ’s 500th home national contest held Irwin Sternberg, presi- great Wayne Red Sox first base- ’s consecutive- run. Jones caught the ball by Wal-Mart sells it dent of Stonehenge Ltd., Gretzky and then- man Bill Buckner’s game streak. Michael Stirn, a while on an excursion with for $640,500. manufacturers of neck- Kings legs during the 32-year-old carpenter, had family and friends. Lasky is Renowned collector wear, pays $60,000 for owner Bruce sixth game of the caught the homer. “It’s just a the founder of the Psychic Michael Gidwitz is a ball signed by Babe McNall. 1986 . ball to me,” he said. Friends Network. the new owner. Ruth and Roger Maris. 1991 1992 1995 1996 1998 1999

PAGE 154 FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2002 BALL OF CONFUSION HAYASHI’S BONDS “I was at the bottom of the Continued from Preceding Page pile, just like everybody RESPONSE ...... else. And the ball was fans untangled the pile. Someone there . . . I put it right into Patrick Hayashi wouldn’t com- picked up a loose ball that had ment for the Daily News, found its way into the pile, but my glove. So, his claims choosing instead to direct Popov shouted frantically, “THAT that I stole it or took it is readers to his Web site, where IS NOT THE BALL!” Seconds lat- he defends himself against the invalid . . . ” er Hayashi slipped in from the allegations made against him. The site can be found at back of the crowd with a sheepish PATRICK HAYASHI grin on his face. He looked square- patrickhayashi.netfirms.com. ly into the camera, then held up Here are several excerpts: the prized ball for everyone to see, or took it is invalid, and he contin- “. . . Some have wondered why and said, “Is this the ball?” Quick- ues to say this in the press and in I didn’t come forward sooner ly, security surrounded Hayashi the public, and they perceive I am to give my version of what as Griffin stepped forward and taking the ball from him.” happened that day. Well, when shouted at the top of his lungs, Experts have lined up on both my life was turned upside “This is not the guy who caught sides of this curious case. Former down that day at the ballpark the ball!” He looked at Hayashi big-league umpire Richie Garcia and then the next day being and said, “You did not catch that ERIC RISBERG/Associated Press has stated on behalf of Hayashi told that another fan was ball!” Yarris also stepped forward that he did not believe that Popov going to sue me . . . I was sim- and began arguing with a per- had “complete control of the ball.” ply shocked . . .” plexed Giants official, who stam- To which Popov and his attorney “. . . I was in the upper arcade mered that “possession is nine- Martin F. Triano replied: Since of the stadium when he hit the tenths of the law.” Security then when do umpires have any author- ball and it came flying in my took Hayashi away to the front of- ity in the stands? Popov has lined direction. Like the dozens of fice, where the ball was certified up Paul Finkelman, a professor at other fans around me, I raised by infrared markings that had the University of Tulsa College of my glove. Next thing I knew, been placed on every ball used dur- Law who has penned a law review the crowd of fans around me ing the home-run quest. article called, “Fugitive started to fall on top of me as Sorensen approached Popov and Abandoned Property — Who I went down. back on The Arcade and told him, Owns the Home Run Ball.” Finkel- For the Daily News “While laying at the bottom of “You should do something about man said that Popov would have The dispute in a nutshell this pile of people, I looked this.” She then handed him a (clockwise from above): held on to the ball if he had not been and saw the ball, which was in piece of paper with her telephone Patrick Hayashi and the base- jumped on, and that it is rightfully no one’s possession, and number on it and said, “Call me if ball; Barry Bonds and his son his. Popov also says he knows 20 placed it in my glove with my you ever need a witness.” Nikolai; and Alex Popov in spectators who are prepared to right hand holding onto it. I court. support his version of events. then tried to stand up, which No one can be exactly certain took awhile since there were a ...... not hear back from him. Instead, what the ball will bring at auction lot of people . . .” What began as an altogether he learned that Hayashi had hired when it is sold. Some say that is lovely day at Pac Bell Park sud- an agent and planned to auction worth decidedly less than the $3 “. . . I did not steal the ball or denly devolved into a soccer riot the ball off. It was at that point million McGwire ball. And some take it away from another fan. with one swing of a . that Popov filed a lawsuit against wonder what will happen if Bonds “And I did not bite anybody. Griffin said that it was “disgust- HARRY HOW/Allsport Hayashi, and then the sides be- or someone else comes along and ing” what happened on the The gan sparring. The two appeared sets the record again? A San “I was simply a fan in the Arcade that day because it clear- animals.” together with their attorneys on Francisco judge who issued an in- crowd who was in the right ly revealed “how far people have And why? “The Early Show” on CBS and junction barring Hayashi from place at the right time . . .” fallen morally.” Sorensen added Yarris said it became down to were interviewed by Bryant selling the ball also ordered that (Issued Oct. 29, 2001) that it is “just another example of one word: greed. Gumbel in December. Popov ante up a $100,000 bond in “ . . . I am still shocked that I how people are capable of any- He explained, “When there is Gumbel asked, “Mr. Hayashi, it the event that it happens. He also am being sued over a ball that thing.” Yarris was just glad that money involved — and this case, looks for all the world on the video- ordered that the ball be placed in both his son was somewhere else, and big money — people just forget tape like Mr. Popov caught the a safety-deposit box, and that it is and the San Francisco Giants feared what would have hap- how they are supposed to act.” ball. How did you come to get it?” where it is today: under lock and gave to me — a fan lucky pened if a young or elderly per- Popov did not immediately call “I was at the bottom of the key and very far from human enough to be part of baseball son had caught the ball. Sorensen. He called Hayashi, and pile, just like everybody else,” hands. # history. What makes this legal “They could have been badly left a message on his answering said Hayashi. “And the ball was nightmare worse are the injured,” he said. “Because those machine that said, “Hey, we need there . . . I put it right into my ...... attacks by Mr. Popov on my people that day just behaved like to talk this over.” But Popov did glove. So, his claims that I stole it BOOK ON BONDS, Page 153 reputation, accusations that we’ve shown to be false . . .” (Issued Nov. 27, 2001) GOING, GOING, GOING UP, CONTINUED Todd McFarlane, an artist-turned- Sammy A baseball autographed by That card Collector Rob The ball Barry Bonds entrepreneur who created the Sosa’s the 1919 Chicago “Black depicting Mitchell, of hit for his major comic-book antihero Spawn, pays final home Sox” sells for $81,449 dur- Honus Wagner Pottstown, Pa., league-record-tying $3 million for the baseball that run of the ing an eBay online auction. sells again, pays $577,610 70th home run last Mark McGwire hit for his 70th 1999 sea- It includes a Joe Jackson this time in an for Black season sells for home run. His private collection son, his signature — a virtually eBay online Betsy, “just” $60,375, well also includes McGwire’s 66th, 66th, sells impossible signature to auction, fetch- Shoeless Joe off preauction esti- 67th, 68th, 69th and first balls, as for find because Jackson was es a winning Jackson’s mates that it would well as ’s 33rd and $172,500. illiterate and could barely bid of favorite base- go for $100,000 or 66th balls. write his name. $1.2 million. ball bat. more. 1999 2000 2001 2002

FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2002 PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS PAGE 155