Zack Hample Explained

Zack Hample
Birth Name:Zachary Ben Hample
Birth Date:14 September 1977
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Alma Mater:Guilford College
Occupation:Collector
Years Active:1990–present
Known For:Collecting baseballs
Parents:Stoo Hample (father)

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. 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.[6] During his youth, Hample hoped to play Major League Baseball before he began collecting baseballs.[7]

Baseball collection history

The first baseball that Hample caught at a game was at Shea Stadium in 1990.[8] Hample has described his interest in catching foul balls as "a passion". 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."

Hample caught his 6,000th baseball in 2012. By 2022, he claimed to have caught 12,000 balls.[9] He developed a device for catching balls at stadiums made out of a baseball glove, rubber band and pen.[10] Hample claims to have developed friendships with current and former professional baseball players including Richard Bleier, Heath Bell, and Jeremy Guthrie.

Hample publishes videos about baseball and ballhawking on YouTube,[11] where he had nearly 600,000 subscribers.[12] He hires his own videographers to document some of his ballhawking exploits. Hample also operates a "concierge service", escorting fans to games and catching balls with them.[13] [14] He charges fans $1500 for the experience, plus travel expenses.[15]

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.[16] [17] [18] He also caught the first career home runs of Mike Trout and Mike Nickeas,[19] and Barry Bonds' 724th home run.[20] 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".[21] 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.[22] 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.[23]

In 2017, Topps created a controversial Zack Hample baseball card, which was included in the 2017 Topps Archives set.[24]

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.[25] Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman criticized Hample for the incident, calling him "a loser."[26] The Portland Pickles, a collegiate summer baseball team, announced that Hample was banned from attending games at Walker Stadium following the incident.[27] Hample later removed a video about the incident from his channel and posted an apology.[28]

Writing

Hample has written several books about baseball, and previously wrote for MiLB.com.[29] His first book, How to Snag Major League Baseballs (1999), is about ballhawking.[30] [8]

His second book Watching Baseball Smarter (2007) is an introduction to the mechanics and rules of baseball, and was mostly well received by critics.[31] [32] 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".[33] Publishers Weekly called it "an invaluable resource for armchair fans".[34]

In 2011, Hample published his third book, The Baseball: Stunts, Scandals, and Secrets Beneath the Stitches, which chronicles the history of baseballs.[35] Mike Shannon, editor-in-chief of Spitball magazine, described The Baseball as the "new authority on the subject".[36] Kirkus Reviews gave a positive review, writing that it "provides plenty of revelations to even the most passionate follower of the game".[37] Blogcritics described the book as entertaining and accessible to both baseball fans and readers unfamiliar with the sport.[38]

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.[39] 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.[40] He came under widespread criticism for taking the ticket, and because he had publicly offered $1,000 to buy one.[41] [42] Hample claimed to have caught eleven balls at Fort Bragg and given ten away.[43] 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.'"[44] [45]

Incidents with players and fans

Hample's aggressive tactics have resulted in widespread criticism from players,[46] sportswriters, and others.[47] [48] [49] He has been accused of bumping multiple fans (and most notably) children out of the way in attempts to catch balls.[4] The New York Post referred to him as "baseball's most hated fan". In 2017, Clayton Kershaw refused to give Hample a ball prior to a Dodgers game, claiming Hample had already caught over 7,000 prior.[50] 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."

Documentary

In 2022, a documentary titled Zack Hample vs the World was released.[51] The documentary, which was produced, directed, written, and shot by Jeff Siegel, was filmed over a period of eight years.[52] 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."[53] [54]

The documentary was reviewed by three critics.[55] [56] 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".[57] 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."[58]

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.[59] 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.[60] [61] 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.[62] [63] [64]

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.[65]

Video games

Hample, a competitive video game player, appeared briefly in the 2007 documentary . 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).[66] [67] [68] [69]

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.[70] He had raised over $200,000 for the organization as of 2019.[71] 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.[72]

Personal life

Hample lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.[73] Hample is Jewish.[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
2022Zack Hample vs. The World
2019The Booksellers
2007The King of Kong

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Record-setting baseball collector Zack Hample visits the Cell . . May 22, 2013 .
  2. Web site: Is Zack Hample Cool? Or is he a Weirdo? . Crossing Broad . February 4, 2022 . April 1, 2019.
  3. Web site: September 20, 2022 . Rockies Usher Claims Zack Hample Stole a Ball Intended For a Kid . September 21, 2022 . The Big Lead . en-US.
  4. Web site: Hickey . Brian . Did Ballhound Zack Hample Muscle Out a Kid For a Souvenir? . Deadspin . January 18, 2020 . September 19, 2010.
  5. Web site: Lozo . Dave . Everyone, Including The U.S. Military, Is Angry With MLB's Most Famous Ball Collector . Uproxx . January 20, 2020 . July 4, 2016.
  6. Web site: Prewitt . Alex. July 3, 2012. Catching baseballs is in Zack Hample's blood . The Boston Globe . January 12, 2023 . en-US.
  7. Web site: Zack Hample vs the World, Sort Of . January 12, 2023 . Twins Daily . April 10, 2022 . en-US.
  8. Web site: June 30, 2017 . AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MAN WHO CAUGHT A-ROD'S 3000TH HIT, ZACK HAMPLE . June 21, 2022 . Fox Sports.
  9. Web site: 2022-09-21 . MLB collector Zack Hample missing Yankees' Aaron Judge chase historic home runs . 2023-01-20 . Yardbarker . en.
  10. 2013-09-30 . Ballhawks . The New Yorker . en-US . 2023-01-20.
  11. Gartland . Dan . Ball Hound Zack Hample Busted His Ass Chasing a Homer . 2023-04-22 . Sports Illustrated . April 20, 2021 . en-us.
  12. Web site: Zack Hample Catches 2 Home Run Balls During ALDS Game 4 At Fenway Park . 2023-04-22 . www.cbsnews.com . October 12, 2021 . en-US.
  13. Web site: Kaplan . Zachary . Ballhawk Zack Hample Talks Baseball, Stadiums and Catching His 10,000th Ball . 2023-04-22 . Parade . June 8, 2017 . en.
  14. Web site: August 23, 2007 . Life's a ball for savvy collector . August 27, 2022 . New Jersey Jewish News.
  15. Web site: FAQs about attending a baseball game with Zack Hample . Zack Hample . 6 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403215349/https://www.zackhample.com/watch-with-zack-faq . 3 April 2023.
  16. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/zack-hample-two-home-runs-yankees-diamondbacks_n_3115535.html Zack Hample Catches 2 Home Runs During Yankees-Diamondbacks Game
  17. Web site: April 19, 2013 . Good Day for Gregorius, Better Day for Fan . Fox Sports Arizona.
  18. News: 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 . . August 26, 2020.
  19. Web site: Diamondbacks vs. Yankees - Game Recap - April 18, 2013 - ESPN . 2022-11-09 . ESPN.com . en.
  20. News: Noted ballhawk Zack Hample makes enemies of the 82nd Airborne division . en-US . Washington Post . 2022-11-09 . 0190-8286.
  21. News: June 24, 2015 . Zack Hample backtracks, says chance Yankees and Alex Rodriguez get 3,000th hit baseball . . September 6, 2022.
  22. Web site: Raynor . Grace . July 3, 2015 . Fan presents 3,000th hit ball to A-Rod . August 26, 2020 . mlb.com.
  23. News: July 3, 2015 . A-Rod, Yanks settle dispute, he gets ball from 3,000th hit . USA Today . Associated Press . August 26, 2020.
  24. Web site: 2017 Topps Archives weathers a storm of controversy to shine for collectors . 2023-04-22.
  25. Web site: September 20, 2022 . Rockies Usher Claims Zack Hample Stole a Ball Intended For a Kid . September 21, 2022 . The Big Lead . en-US.
  26. Web site: Rosvoglou . Chris . August 27, 2022 . Look: Meet The MLB Fan Everyone's Hating On This Week . August 27, 2022 . The Spun.
  27. Web site: Kinkead . Kevin . August 31, 2022 . The Portland Pickles BANNED Zack Hample from their Stadium . September 3, 2022 . Crossing Broad.
  28. Web site: Sanchez . Robert . August 31, 2022 . YouTuber (Kinda, Sorta) Apologizes for Video Takedown of Coors Field Security . September 1, 2022 . 5280.com.
  29. Web site: Ballhawk Badders inspired by Hample . 2023-04-22 . MiLB.com . en.
  30. Web site: How to Snag Major League Baseballs . November 9, 2022 . archive.nytimes.com.
  31. Web site: 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 . November 9, 2022 . seattlepi.com . en-US.
  32. Web site: December 31, 2007 . Watching Baseball Smarter: A Professional Fan's Guide for Beginners, Semi-experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks by Zack Hample . November 9, 2022 . Publishers Weekly.
  33. Web site: Smith . Craig . July 20, 2007 . "Watching Baseball Smarter" a gem at explaining the diamond sport . November 9, 2022 . The Seattle Times . en-US.
  34. Web site: December 31, 2007 . Watching Baseball Smarter: A Professional Fan's Guide for Beginners, Semi-experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks by Zack Hample . January 2, 2023 . Publishers Weekly.
  35. Web site: a book review by J. W. Nicklaus: The Baseball: Stunts, Scandals, and Secrets Beneath the Stitches . November 9, 2022 . New York Journal of Books.
  36. Web site: Spitball Magazine - Baseball Books Reviewed: The Baseball . November 9, 2022 . www.spitballmag.com . en-US.
  37. Book: THE BASEBALL Kirkus Reviews . en.
  38. Web site: xoxoxoe . March 24, 2011 . Book Review: The Baseball: Stunts, Scandals, and Secrets Beneath the Stitches by Zack Hample . November 9, 2022 . Blogcritics . en-US.
  39. News: Rovell . Darren . July 3, 2016 . Ball hawk's presence at Fort Bragg causes stir . . August 26, 2020.
  40. Web site: Axisa . Mike . July 4, 2016 . Noted ballhawk donating $100 to charity for each ball caught at Fort Bragg game . August 22, 2017 . CBSSports.com.
  41. Web site: Duffy . Thomas . Baseball Collector Zack Hample Attends Military-Only Fort Bragg Game . 2023-04-22 . Bleacher Report . en.
  42. Web site: What to know about this Marlins Man vs. Zack Hample beef over Fort Bragg game . 2023-04-22 . CBSSports.com . July 6, 2016 . en.
  43. Web site: 2016-07-04 . Everyone Is Angry With MLB's Most Famous Ball Collector . 2023-04-22 . UPROXX . en-US.
  44. Web site: Rodger Mullen Staff. Baseball collector apologizes for attending Fort Bragg Game – News . Fayobserver.com . August 22, 2017.
  45. Web site: Axisa . Mike . There's a petition to ban notorious ballhawk Zack Hample from MLB ballparks . CBSSports.com . July 4, 2016 . November 28, 2018.
  46. Web site: 2012-09-20 . Ballhawk Zack Hample Was Kicked Out Of Nationals Park Last Night, And He Is Pissed About It . 2023-04-22 . Deadspin . en.
  47. Web site: Schwartz . Jared . Despised MLB fan Zack Hample whines after having to follow rules . NY Post . 24 June 2023 . 26 August 2022 . Hample’s antics have earned him ample criticism and detractors across MLB..
  48. Web site: Petchesky . Barry . June 30, 2016 . Ballhawk Zack Hample Throws Fit Because Someone Else Wanted A Baseball . August 26, 2020 . Deadspin.com.
  49. Web site: Petchesky . Barry . July 1, 2016 . Against Ballhawking . August 26, 2020 . Deadspin.com.
  50. News: Terranova . Justin . June 20, 2017 . Why this ballhawk is baseball's most hated fan . New York Post . August 26, 2020.
  51. Web site: Kraft . Tim . 2022-04-07 . Zack Hample vs. The World: New Jeff Siegel Documentary Humanizes Ballhawk . 2023-01-30 . MovieWeb . en.
  52. Web site: Documentary explores Zack Hample's pursuit of happiness and baseballs . 2023-04-22 . www.giving.guilford.edu . en.
  53. Web site: 'League of Their Own' inspirations to open HOF Film Festival . 2023-04-22 . Cooperstown Crier . September 18, 2019 . en.
  54. Web site: Film Fest Highlighted By 'A League of Their Own' . 2023-04-22 . Baseball Hall of Fame . en.
  55. Web site: Carey . Zack Hample vs. the World . 2023-04-22 . Orcasound.com . en-US.
  56. Web site: Zack Hample Vs. The World - Movie Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes . www.rottentomatoes.com . 6 May 2023 . en.
  57. Web site: Ames . Jeff . 2022-03-30 . Zack Hample vs. the World Review: Baseball Collector Documentary Impresses . 2023-01-30 . ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More . en-US.
  58. Web site: Silver . Stephen . 2022-03-29 . Zack Hample vs. the World Follows Baseball's Most Notorious Ballhawk . 2023-01-30 . Tilt Magazine . en.
  59. News: Scoggins. Chaz. This baseball stunt goes way back. The Sun. Lowell, Mass.. July 8, 2012. August 26, 2020.
  60. http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120705&content_id=34564236&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_farmalmc Hample tries to catch history in Lowell
  61. Web site: The flight of the ballhawk - Sports - the Boston Globe . articles.boston.com . February 5, 2022 . https://archive.today/20130118122551/http://articles.boston.com/2012-07-03/sports/32513570_1_t-shirt-zack-hample-major-league-baseball . January 18, 2013 . dead.
  62. News: Le Marie. Nicole. Zack Hample catches baseball dropped from 1,000 feet. Metro. July 14, 2013. August 26, 2020.
  63. Web site: Johnson. Blair. Zack Hample's helicopter drop catch. Yahoo! Sports. July 16, 2013. August 26, 2020.
  64. Web site: Guilford College graduate Zack Hample catches baseball dropped from 1,050 feet. Charlotte News & Observer.
  65. Web site: Jolivet . Lindsay . Baseball collector breaks world record after catching ball thrown from helicopter . news.yahoo.com. January 20, 2020 . July 15, 2013.
  66. Web site: Interview with Zack Hample at Funspot . Twin Galaxies . May 20, 2019.
  67. Web site: *True* arcade gaming world records page . Classicarcadegaming.com . July 31, 2020.
  68. Web site: Arkanoid arcade video game by Taito (1986) . Arcade-history.com . July 31, 2020.
  69. Web site: Scores of Zachary Hample. January 3, 2021. www.twingalaxies.com. en.
  70. Web site: Chiusano . Scott . Zack Hample: Baseball Magnet . 2022-11-09 . SI Kids: Sports News for Kids, Kids Games and More . August 22, 2014 . en-us.
  71. Web site: Friedman . Todd . The Walter Day Collection - Trading Card Spotlight - Zack Hample . 2023-04-22 . The Walter Day Collection . February 2019 . en-gb.
  72. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bigs-sunflower-seeds-greatest-ballhawk-135500114.html BIGS Sunflower Seeds and the Greatest Ballhawk of All-time Go For an Amazing Baseball Record to Benefit Charity
  73. News: Weber. Bruce. Stuart E. Hample, Humorist and Cartoonist, Dies at 84. September 24, 2010. The New York Times. August 26, 2020.
  74. Web site: Life's a ball for savvy collector. . August 23, 2007 . August 27, 2022.
  75. Web site: Review: 'The Booksellers': If you love books, you'll adore this documentary . Los Angeles Times . April 16, 2020 . July 4, 2021.
  76. Web site: Our Team . Argosy Book Store . July 4, 2021.

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