Zack Hample
Hample in 2008
Born
Zachary Ben Hample

(1977-09-14) September 14, 1977
New York City, U.S.
Alma materGuilford College
OccupationCollector
Years active1990–present
Known forCollecting baseballs
RelativesStoo Hample (father)
Websitezackhample.com

Zachary Ben Hample (born September 14, 1977)[1] is an American baseball collector.[2] Hample claims to have collected more than 12,000 baseballs[3] from Major League stadiums, including Alex Rodriguez's 3,000th career hit and Mike Trout's first career home run.

Hample has been criticized by sportswriters, players, and fans, due to his aggressive tactics to collect baseballs.[4][5]

Early life

Hample was raised in New York City. He is the son of author, performer, playwright and cartoonist Stoo Hample.[6] He developed an interest in baseball at the age of five. He played Division III baseball for the Guilford Quakers while studying English at Guilford College.[7][8] During his youth, Hample hoped to play Major League Baseball before he began collecting baseballs.[9]

Baseball collection history

The first baseball that Hample caught at a game was at Shea Stadium in 1990.[10] Hample has described his interest in catching foul balls as "a passion".[10] He has said his obsession for catching balls developed "when I got my first ball, it’s like it multiplied from there. I wanted it so bad, not just one, I wanted another, and another and another."[10]

Hample caught his 6,000th baseball in 2012.[7] By 2022, he claimed to have caught 12,000 balls.[11] He developed a device for catching balls at stadiums made out of a baseball glove, rubber band and pen.[12] Hample claims to have developed friendships with current and former professional baseball players including Richard Bleier, Heath Bell, and Jeremy Guthrie.[10]

Hample publishes videos about baseball and ballhawking on YouTube,[13] where he had nearly 600,000 subscribers.[9][14] He hires his own videographers to document some of his ballhawking exploits.[7] Hample also operates a "concierge service",[13] escorting fans to games and catching balls with them.[15][16] He charges fans $1500 for the experience, plus travel expenses.[17]

Notable events

In 2008, Hample caught the last Mets homerun hit at Shea Stadium. On April 18, 2013, Hample caught two home run balls during a game at Yankee Stadium, including the first career homer of shortstop Didi Gregorius.[18][19][20] He also caught the first career home runs of Mike Trout and Mike Nickeas,[21] and Barry Bonds' 724th home run.[22]

Hample holding up a ball he caught during the 2021 Home Run Derby

In June 2015, Hample caught Alex Rodriguez's 3,000th career hit, which was a home run. Hample initially refused to return the ball on Twitter, saying Rodriguez "deserves nothing".[23] However, he eventually agreed to give the ball to Rodriguez as part of an agreement with the Yankees where the organization donated $150,000 to Pitch In For Baseball.[24] Hample also personally received an autographed jersey, two autographed bats, a VIP backstage tour of the stadium and tickets to the 2015 MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby as part of his deal.[25]

In 2017, Topps created a controversial Zack Hample baseball card, which was included in the 2017 Topps Archives set.[26]

In August 2022, Hample attempted to enter a prohibited section at Coors Field, which required a specific ticket for entry, to catch a Nolan Arenado home run ball. After Hample refused to comply, a group of security guards told him he would be ejected if he did not remain seated. Hample agreed, but complained about the "fan experience." According to one Twitter user, a Rockies usher also claimed Hample had grabbed a ball dropped by a young fan and refused to return it.[27] Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman criticized Hample for the incident, calling him "a loser."[28] The Portland Pickles, a collegiate summer baseball team, announced that Hample was banned from attending games at Walker Stadium following the incident.[29] Hample later removed a video about the incident from his channel and posted an apology.[30]

Writing

Hample has written several books about baseball, and previously wrote for MiLB.com.[31] His first book, How to Snag Major League Baseballs (1999), is about ballhawking.[32][10]

His second book Watching Baseball Smarter (2007) is an introduction to the mechanics and rules of baseball, and was mostly well received by critics.[33][34] Craig Smith of The Seattle Times wrote that it "isn’t the first book to take on the challenge of explaining baseball intricacies, but I’ve never seen it done better".[35] Publishers Weekly called it "an invaluable resource for armchair fans".[36]

In 2011, Hample published his third book, The Baseball: Stunts, Scandals, and Secrets Beneath the Stitches, which chronicles the history of baseballs.[37] Mike Shannon, editor-in-chief of Spitball magazine, described The Baseball as the "new authority on the subject".[38] Kirkus Reviews gave a positive review, writing that it "provides plenty of revelations to even the most passionate follower of the game".[39] Blogcritics described the book as entertaining and accessible to both baseball fans and readers unfamiliar with the sport.[40]

Controversies

Fort Bragg game

Hample acquired a ticket to the Fort Bragg Game on July 3, 2016, at Fort Bragg Stadium, that was meant for active duty military personnel and their friends and families.[41] Hample announced on Twitter that he was attending the game, and would donate $100 for every ball he collected to a charity for military veterans.[42] He came under widespread criticism for taking the ticket, and because he had publicly offered $1,000 to buy a ticket.[43][44] Hample claimed to have caught eleven balls at Fort Bragg and given ten away.[45] He posted a lengthy apology on Twitter, which CBS sports writer Mike Axisa stated "boils down to 'I'm sorry but I really wanted to go.'"[46][47]

Incidents with players and fans

Hample's aggressive tactics have resulted in widespread criticism from players,[48][4] sportswriters,[5] and others.[49][50][51] He has been seen bumping children out of the way in attempts to catch balls.[4] The New York Post referred to him as "baseball's most hated fan".[52] Clayton Kershaw once refused to give him a ball because Hample already had "7,000 of 'em".[52] In 2022, a Colorado Rockies usher witnessed an incident in which a coach threw a ball to a young fan who then dropped it. Hample grabbed the ball; as he walked away, the usher asked why he didn't give the ball to the child, and Hample replied, "Because it's my ball. He dropped it, so it's my ball."[3]

Documentary

In 2022, a documentary titled Zack Hample vs the World was released.[53] The documentary, which was produced, directed, written, and shot by Jeff Siegel, was filmed over a period of eight years.[54] It was first screened at the Baseball Hall Of Fame Film Festival in 2019, with Hample and Siegel in attendance. Hample was quoted as saying "I always dreamt that I’d end up in the Hall of Fame and in a way I kinda am."[55][56]

The documentary was reviewed by three critics.[57][58] Jeff Ames of Comingsoon.net gave the film a score of eight out of ten, saying that it "entertains thanks to its engaging subject matter".[59] Stephen Silver, writing for Tilt, said that "I now find the subject more interesting than I did before I watched the film, but I don't necessarily find myself any more sympathetic to him."[60]

Other activities

Helicopter stunts

On July 2, 2012, Hample attempted to catch a baseball dropped from a helicopter 1,000 feet above LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Massachusetts.[61] Wearing catcher's gear that was donated by Rawlings, Hample caught a softball dropped from a height of 312 feet. He then caught baseballs dropped from heights of 562 feet and 822 feet before the Federal Aviation Administration called off the stunt due to strong winds.[62][63] The 822-foot catch was initially thought to be 762 feet, but a discrepancy in the altimeter settings, which was captured on video and discovered months later, added 60 feet to the altitude. On July 13, 2013, Hample made another attempt at LeLacheur Park and succeeded in catching a baseball dropped from an altitude of 1,050 feet.[64][65][66]

The catch is not recognized as a record by Guinness World Records, as no one from the organization was in attendance to verify the attempt.[67]

Video games

Hample, a competitive video game player, appeared briefly in the 2007 documentary The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. According to Twin Galaxies, he holds official world records on half a dozen classic video games including Breakout (896 points) and Arkanoid (1,658,110 points).[68][69][70][71]

Fundraising

Hample began working with Pitch in for Baseball and Softball, a non-profit charity that provides baseball and softball equipment to underprivileged children, in 2009.[8] He had raised over $200,000 for the organization as of 2019.[72] He raises the money with help from his fans, who pledge money for every baseball that he snags at Major League stadiums, and from BIGS Sunflower Seeds, who sponsored him during the 2013 season.[73]

Personal life

Hample lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.[6] Hample is Jewish and his brother, Joe, is a rabbi.[74]

Hample's family owns and operates Argosy Book Store, and was the focus of the 2019 documentary The Booksellers.[75][76]

Filmography

Year Title Notes
2022 Zack Hample vs. The World
2019 The Booksellers
2007 The King of Kong

References

  1. ↑ "Record-setting baseball collector Zack Hample visits the Cell". Chicago Tribune. May 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Is Zack Hample Cool? Or is he a Weirdo?". Crossing Broad. April 1, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Rockies Usher Claims Zack Hample Stole a Ball Intended For a Kid". The Big Lead. September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Hickey, Brian (September 19, 2010). "Did Ballhound Zack Hample Muscle Out a Kid For a Souvenir?". Deadspin. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Lozo, Dave (July 4, 2016). "Everyone, Including The U.S. Military, Is Angry With MLB's Most Famous Ball Collector". Uproxx. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Weber, Bruce (September 24, 2010). "Stuart E. Hample, Humorist and Cartoonist, Dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 Prewitt, Alex (July 3, 2012). "Catching baseballs is in Zack Hample's blood". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Chiusano, Scott (August 22, 2014). "Zack Hample: Baseball Magnet". SI Kids: Sports News for Kids, Kids Games and More. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Zack Hample vs the World, Sort Of". Twins Daily. April 10, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MAN WHO CAUGHT A-ROD'S 3000TH HIT, ZACK HAMPLE". Fox Sports. June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  11. ↑ "MLB collector Zack Hample missing Yankees' Aaron Judge chase historic home runs". Yardbarker. September 21, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Ballhawks". The New Yorker. September 30, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Gartland, Dan (April 20, 2021). "Ball Hound Zack Hample Busted His Ass Chasing a Homer". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Zack Hample Catches 2 Home Run Balls During ALDS Game 4 At Fenway Park". www.cbsnews.com. October 12, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  15. ↑ Kaplan, Zachary (June 8, 2017). "Ballhawk Zack Hample Talks Baseball, Stadiums and Catching His 10,000th Ball". Parade. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Life's a ball for savvy collector". New Jersey Jewish News. August 23, 2007. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  17. ↑ "FAQs about attending a baseball game with Zack Hample". Zack Hample. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  18. ↑ Zack Hample Catches 2 Home Runs During Yankees-Diamondbacks Game (AP/Huffington Post)
  19. ↑ "Good Day for Gregorius, Better Day for Fan". Fox Sports Arizona. April 19, 2013.
  20. ↑ Brennan, Sean; O'Leary, Daniel (April 19, 2013). "Famous baseball collector Zack Hample catches home runs by Didi Gregorius and Francisco Cervelli at Thursday night's Yankees game". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Diamondbacks vs. Yankees - Game Recap - April 18, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Noted ballhawk Zack Hample makes enemies of the 82nd Airborne division". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Zack Hample backtracks, says chance Yankees and Alex Rodriguez get 3,000th hit baseball". The New York Daily News. June 24, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  24. ↑ Raynor, Grace (July 3, 2015). "Fan presents 3,000th hit ball to A-Rod". mlb.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  25. ↑ "A-Rod, Yanks settle dispute, he gets ball from 3,000th hit". USA Today. Associated Press. July 3, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  26. ↑ "2017 Topps Archives weathers a storm of controversy to shine for collectors". Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Rockies Usher Claims Zack Hample Stole a Ball Intended For a Kid". The Big Lead. September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  28. ↑ Rosvoglou, Chris (August 27, 2022). "Look: Meet The MLB Fan Everyone's Hating On This Week". The Spun. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  29. ↑ Kinkead, Kevin (August 31, 2022). "The Portland Pickles BANNED Zack Hample from their Stadium". Crossing Broad. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  30. ↑ Sanchez, Robert (August 31, 2022). "YouTuber (Kinda, Sorta) Apologizes for Video Takedown of Coors Field Security". 5280.com. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Ballhawk Badders inspired by Hample". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  32. ↑ "How to Snag Major League Baseballs". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  33. ↑ Maresca, Dr Joseph S. (October 11, 2012). "Book Review: Watching Baseball Smarter - A Professional Fan Guide for Beginners, Semi - Experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks by Zack Hample". seattlepi.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Watching Baseball Smarter: A Professional Fan's Guide for Beginners, Semi-experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks by Zack Hample". Publishers Weekly. December 31, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  35. ↑ Smith, Craig (July 20, 2007). ""Watching Baseball Smarter" a gem at explaining the diamond sport". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  36. ↑ "Watching Baseball Smarter: A Professional Fan's Guide for Beginners, Semi-experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks by Zack Hample". Publishers Weekly. December 31, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  37. ↑ "a book review by J. W. Nicklaus: The Baseball: Stunts, Scandals, and Secrets Beneath the Stitches". New York Journal of Books. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  38. ↑ "Spitball Magazine - Baseball Books Reviewed: The Baseball". www.spitballmag.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  39. ↑ THE BASEBALL | Kirkus Reviews.
  40. ↑ xoxoxoe (March 24, 2011). "Book Review: The Baseball: Stunts, Scandals, and Secrets Beneath the Stitches by Zack Hample". Blogcritics. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  41. ↑ Rovell, Darren (July 3, 2016). "Ball hawk's presence at Fort Bragg causes stir". espn.go.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  42. ↑ Axisa, Mike (July 4, 2016). "Noted ballhawk donating $100 to charity for each ball caught at Fort Bragg game". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  43. ↑ Duffy, Thomas. "Baseball Collector Zack Hample Attends Military-Only Fort Bragg Game". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  44. ↑ "What to know about this Marlins Man vs. Zack Hample beef over Fort Bragg game". CBSSports.com. July 6, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  45. ↑ "Everyone Is Angry With MLB's Most Famous Ball Collector". UPROXX. July 4, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  46. ↑ Rodger Mullen Staff. "Baseball collector apologizes for attending Fort Bragg Game – News". Fayobserver.com. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  47. ↑ Axisa, Mike (July 4, 2016). "There's a petition to ban notorious ballhawk Zack Hample from MLB ballparks". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  48. ↑ "Ballhawk Zack Hample Was Kicked Out Of Nationals Park Last Night, And He Is Pissed About It". Deadspin. September 20, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  49. ↑ Schwartz, Jared (August 26, 2022). "Despised MLB fan Zack Hample whines after having to follow rules". NY Post. Retrieved June 24, 2023. Hample's antics have earned him ample criticism and detractors across MLB.
  50. ↑ Petchesky, Barry (June 30, 2016). "Ballhawk Zack Hample Throws Fit Because Someone Else Wanted A Baseball". Deadspin.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  51. ↑ Petchesky, Barry (July 1, 2016). "Against Ballhawking". Deadspin.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  52. 1 2 Terranova, Justin (June 20, 2017). "Why this ballhawk is baseball's most hated fan". New York Post. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  53. ↑ Kraft, Tim (April 7, 2022). "Zack Hample vs. The World: New Jeff Siegel Documentary Humanizes Ballhawk". MovieWeb. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  54. ↑ "Documentary explores Zack Hample's pursuit of happiness and baseballs". www.giving.guilford.edu. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  55. ↑ "'League of Their Own' inspirations to open HOF Film Festival". Cooperstown Crier. September 18, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  56. ↑ "Film Fest Highlighted By 'A League of Their Own'". Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  57. ↑ Carey. "Zack Hample vs. the World". Orcasound.com. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  58. ↑ "Zack Hample Vs. The World - Movie Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  59. ↑ Ames, Jeff (March 30, 2022). "Zack Hample vs. the World Review: Baseball Collector Documentary Impresses". ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  60. ↑ Silver, Stephen (March 29, 2022). "Zack Hample vs. the World Follows Baseball's Most Notorious Ballhawk". Tilt Magazine. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  61. ↑ Scoggins, Chaz (July 8, 2012). "This baseball stunt goes way back". The Sun. Lowell, Mass. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  62. ↑ Hample tries to catch history in Lowell, Minorleaguebaseball.com
  63. ↑ "The flight of the ballhawk - Sports - the Boston Globe". articles.boston.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  64. ↑ Le Marie, Nicole (July 14, 2013). "Zack Hample catches baseball dropped from 1,000 feet". Metro. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  65. ↑ Johnson, Blair (July 16, 2013). "Zack Hample's helicopter drop catch". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  66. ↑ "Guilford College graduate Zack Hample catches baseball dropped from 1,050 feet". Charlotte News & Observer.
  67. ↑ Jolivet, Lindsay (July 15, 2013). "Baseball collector breaks world record after catching ball thrown from helicopter". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  68. ↑ "Interview with Zack Hample at Funspot". Twin Galaxies. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  69. ↑ "*True* arcade gaming world records page". Classicarcadegaming.com. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  70. ↑ "Arkanoid arcade video game by Taito (1986)". Arcade-history.com. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  71. ↑ "Scores of Zachary Hample". www.twingalaxies.com. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  72. ↑ Friedman, Todd (February 2019). "The Walter Day Collection - Trading Card Spotlight - Zack Hample". The Walter Day Collection. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  73. ↑ BIGS Sunflower Seeds and the Greatest Ballhawk of All-time Go For an Amazing Baseball Record to Benefit Charity, Yahoo! Finance
  74. ↑ "Life's a ball for savvy collector". New Jersey Jewish News. August 23, 2007. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  75. ↑ "Review: 'The Booksellers': If you love books, you'll adore this documentary". Los Angeles Times. April 16, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  76. ↑ "Our Team". Argosy Book Store. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
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