DENVER (AP) -Radio host Steffan Tubbs says he has the ball used in a rare unassisted triple play and has no intention of holding it for ransom or auctioning it off on eBay.
Tubbs, co-host of KOA-AM’s morning show in Denver, said Wednesday he just wants to give it back to its rightful owner – Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
Tubbs said he was sitting in the radio station’s seats behind the Rockies’ dugout with his two kids on Sunday when Tulowitzki turned the 13th unassisted triple play in major league history. Tubbs said he nabbed the ball when Colorado first baseman Todd Helton threw it into the stands moments after the play.
It’s now stored in a Ziplock bag at his home.
Tubbs has yet to be contacted by the Rockies for the ball. However, he’s heard through the grapevine that Tulowitzki is interested in it.
He won’t ask for much.
“Anything he would feel like is a fair trade would be welcome,” Tubbs said. “I’m just having fun with it. I never understood how you could hold a ball like that for ransom. This guy could play 500 seasons of baseball and never have that happen again. It’s cool he wants it back, and he’ll get it.”
A deal could happen soon.
“Our hope is that at the earliest opportunity we will schedule a meeting with Troy and Steffan to exchange an autographed item for the baseball,” said Jay Alves, vice president of communications for the Rockies.
Tubbs announced he had the ball on his KOA-850 radio show Monday and the station issued a statement on his behalf Tuesday night.
“I was thrilled to have the ball,” Tubbs said in the statement. “Considering how rare a ball it is, it definitely belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame.”
The ball may never wind up in the Hall because it can’t be verified that it’s the one from the triple play. However, Tulowitzki’s jersey and hat have already been sent to Cooperstown, N.Y.
“I had people sitting around me say, ‘We’ll sign affidavits,”’ Tubbs said. “It’s a great part of Rockies team history.”
The play came in the seventh inning of a Braves-Rockies game with the score tied at 5. Kelly Johnson and Edgar Renteria had reached on singles and were running on a 3-2 pitch when Tulowitzki caught Chipper Jones’ line drive close to second base. The rookie stepped on the bag to double up Johnson, then tagged Renteria for the third out.
Video shows Tulowitzki throwing the ball to Helton, but no video has surfaced showing Helton throwing the ball into the stands or anyone catching it. Helton has acknowledged he tossed the ball to the fans.
Tubbs said it was only the second time he had been given the station’s seats in his 12 years there. He said he had taken his glove to protect his kids in case a screaming line drive came their way. He was shocked when Helton casually tossed the ball his way.
Tulowitzki’s unassisted triple play was the first in the majors since shortstop Rafael Furcal did it for Atlanta on Sept. 10, 2003, against St. Louis.
“I’m surprised at the attention it’s getting and can’t wait to get (the ball) back to the rightful owner,” Tubbs said. “It’s my 15 minutes of fame and the ball’s 15 minutes of fame.”
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