 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Tickets
Buy or Sell
To buy or sell tickets to any
Baseball game make sure
to use Legalball.com where
all transactions are
guaranteed!
For New York Yankees,
Boston Red Sox, St. Louis
Cardinals, San Francisco
Giants, L.A. Dodgers,
Philadelphia Phillies,
Chicago Cubs, Oakland A's
or any other MLB TEAM.
By: Keith Dobkowski, MLB News Writer
A week ago Barry Bonds joined the likes of Babe Ruth and Hank
Aaron in the 700 Homerun club. And Steven Williams and Timothy
Murphy joined the likes of Alex Popov and Patrick Hayashi in the
homerun ball lawsuit club.
That’s right. Another milestone homerun followed by another
lawsuit defining possession. And unlike number 73, I have
personal connections to number 700.
Before and during law school I completed research for an
antitrust and civil litigation attorney who was contacted by
Murphy for representation over number 700. As a favor to this
attorney, I completed research and provided my honest opinion
about the veracity of the suit.
My findings based off a combination of Hayashi/Popov suit, old
British Whaling and Fox Hunting cases, the rules of baseball, and
common sense dollars led me to recommend that this attorney
say no to the representation offer.
And while another attorney did say yes to Murphy and his claim of
possession as the ball was firmly trapped under his leg, I find
myself returning to the very roots of legalball.com by explaining
the law as it affects us, the fans.
Together we have explored civil battery on the football field,
antitrust matters in the NFL, insurance premiums limiting payroll
in Major League Baseball and several other issues affecting the
sports we love.
So as I complete my first year of sports writing and enter the
veteran ranks, what better topic could there be then to explain
the law surrounding my personal favorite ballplayer Barry Bonds,
as he surpasses Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. And what better
way could there be to celebrate my first year than to explain the
nuances of winning the baseball lottery, better known as
catching 715 and 756.
The craze over baseball memorabilia has been growing for
several years. However, it was not until Mark McGuire and
Sammy Sosa entered the homerun record chase of 1998 that the
absurdity of paying three million for a baseball became reality.
McGuire’s 70th homerun ball fetched just that. That buyer, who
obviously has plenty of disposable income, purchased Sosa’s
66th and three years later, Bonds’ 73rd.
Most know the famous story behind Bonds’ 73rd where one fan,
Popov claimed to have caught the ball only to have a scrum knock
the ball free from his mitt and eventually into the lucky hands of
Hayashi.
The case that followed appeared simple on its face: did Popov
gain possession of the ball? A yes makes it Popov’s ball and a no
would make it Hayashi’s.
Actually the law based off old British cases regarding the
harpooning of whales, states that it is one person or the others.
If your Harpoon sticks it is yours, but if you hit the whale and the
Harpoon falls out, it’s a free whale. However, in the
Popov/Hayashi case, the judge took the easy way out claiming
that both men had equal claims of possession and therefore the
ball should be sold and the profits split.
The moral of the story became simple as both men spent more in
attorney’s fees than the ball sold for. And yet here we are again,
another ball, another lawsuit.
More shocking with 700 is that the media more than anything
else created the hype. 700 is a wonderful milestone but is it the
same as passing Willie Mays with 661. Or next year as Bonds
passes the Babe with 715.
Recall the celebration when Cal Ripkin played in 2131st game.
Not much of a celebration for 2000 though. And who could forget
the greatest speech in sports as Ricky Henderson broke Lou
Brock’s stelen base record and proclaimed himself the “greatest
ever.” Ricky did not give a speech at 100 stolen bags though.
So how much is this ball worth? McGuire’s record ball fetched
three million. Bonds’ 73rd sold for nearly one half million. Bonds’
600th sold for about $50,000.
With already three lawsuits, four attorneys and several more
claims on the way, quick math at $250 per hour means that if
number 700 is worth $100,000, the ball is really worth about 400
billable hours or about two and a half weeks per attorney.
Furthermore, Bonds has already hit 701, 702 and 703. Thinking
that each is greater, why not greater value on each ascending
homer. Point being that number 700 will continue to depreciate
especially as Bonds reaches 715 and 756.
And what happens when Bonds passes the Babe and the
Hammer? Some have called for a referendum stating that the ball
belongs to Major League Baseball and must be returned. Others
believe that it should become property of the city in which it was
hit. How about returning the ball to Bonds?
With baseball’s desire to always fight for the status quo, see the
rule on steroids, most likely nothing will change by next May as
Bonds passes the Babe or the following April as he sets the all-
time record. The best advice is to bring a mitt, a video camera to
document the possession, a posse and finally a notarized
agreement with each member of the posse.
High Crime rates in the NBA...
Our Sports Law and Sports Business Experts know why
High turnover in Major League Baseball...
Our Sports Law and Sports Business Experts know why
Steroids in the NFL, MLB, and Olympics...
Our Sports Law and Sports Business Experts know why
Legalball.com will address both Sports Law and Sports Business issues and give
readers an inside understanding to both what happens in sports and
why it happens…
So For Sports Fans who desire to know WHY things happen…
Our Sports Law and Sports Business Experts know why
LegalBall.com - Sports News Covering Legal and Business Issues