Boston Red Sox

Maine man who caught historic David Ortiz home run ball didn’t want any money

All the diehard Red Sox fan wanted was to meet Big Papi

David Ortiz celebrates his 536th career home run, which tied Micky Mantle for 17th all time. AP

All Rob Jordan wanted to do was meet his hero.

During Monday night’s Red Sox-Orioles game, Jordan was perched on a stairwell in Fenway Park’s right field stands when David Ortiz’s 536th home run ball bounced into and over the visiting bullpen and came hurtling toward him. Jordan snagged the ball with his bare hand, according to the Portland Press Herald. The home run tied Ortiz with Micky Mantle for 17th on MLB’s all-time home run list.

From the Press Herald:

“We were asking if we can meet (Ortiz) and they said no, so I said, ‘OK, I’ll hold onto the ball,’” said Jordan, who had never caught a ball at a major league game.

The representative left, but returned a few minutes later to escort them to the Red Sox clubhouse entrance.

“We ended up right in the entranceway of the clubhouse, and around the corner here he comes,” Jordan said. “He had this big smile on his face.”

Jordan shared his story with WMTW:

Jordan spent about five minutes with Ortiz after the game, taking pictures and receiving a signed bat.  He later told the Press Herald, “I don’t think I would have sold it, anyway.”

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