The Quest for 5,000

I have set a goal for the remainder of the 2008 season. I want to get to 5,000 balls caught at professional baseball games. I would also like to get the "Monkey" off my back and catch game HR #100.

I am just 154 balls away from 5,000 and it should be pretty obtainable if I hit a few minor league games along with the MLB games I plan on attending. I have just a month left in the Minor League season so we will see what happens.

As for Game HR #100, I have been chasing game HR #100 since I caught Miguel Ojeda's World Baseball Classic HR in March of 2006. Ojeda's ball was #99. While this was not a regular season game I decided to count it because it was sanctioned by Major League Baseball and did have the greatest players in the World playing! I guess time will tell on this one. I just have to do my homework, scout the players and hope that I am ultimately in the right place at the right time!

Another goal will be 3800 total MLB baseballs which I am just 75 away from as of today. Although this includes baseballs caught at spring training games it is still a milestone I am happy to get to! There is a chance I could get to it this season although as most of you know I rarely ask players for baseballs so it would be all about catching the majority of those 75 balls which makes it a little bit tougher!

4,000 total MLB balls will be a goal for next season possilby since the World Baseball Classic makes it's return!

Next season could be another magical milestone of possibly reaching 3000 balls caught at regular season MLB games.

As always I appreciate your Ballhawking stories and fan mail so email me at mlballhawk@gmail.com! You could even win a baseball that I have caught at a game!!