Greatest Day of My Life - The true story of the Brett Gardner foul ball catch

Written By: Frankie Zayas 

Written On: April 29th, 2022

Now I know what some people are thinking, catching a foul ball at a baseball game? Who cares? WRONG. I care, and that’s all that matters. If you were ever a kid growing up going to ball games too, I am sure you will understand. I’ll start with some back story. 

I was born and raised in the Bronx. I was close enough to the old Yankee Stadium that we could ride our bikes there. I went to so many Yankee games as a kid I lost count. Growing up with a love for sports, especially all the same teams as your dad is truly something else. And of course he was the one to take me to all those games. I am extremely fortunate and blessed to have those memories with him, and I am grateful for them everyday. 

Over the course of all those games as a kid, I only wanted two things, for the Yankees to win and to catch a foul ball. I would see other people do it on tv or on the big screen at games and there was something about the amount of joy they showed and how everyone was so happy around them, I wanted that. Every game whether the Yanks would win or lose, I was still disappointed leaving the game. My dad would always say “Don’t worry kid, there's always next time” which would cheer me up because just the thought of going to another game made me happy. 

So fast forward to April 29th 2017. My Dad's friend at work knows the VP of some bank branch in the city and was given tickets to a game he couldn't attend. So he gave all four tickets to my Dad. They weren’t in the Legends suite but it was the second row behind that, easily the best seats I had ever had up to that point in time. We get there and it's a beautiful day for baseball. The Orioles were in town and the Yankees jumped on them in the first inning and went on to win 12-4. But it was the 6th inning where the magic took place. 

Gardner comes up to the plate, pitcher throws him a fast ball and he takes a hack at. This ball pops almost straight up, at first I thought the catcher was going to have a chance at it. But this baby has some sick back spin to it. As the ball is falling, it continues to move back towards me. I stood up, beer in hand and knew this was my moment. At this point I am throwing elbows to everyone around me, my dad, the friends that came with us who were sitting next to me, and this little kid sitting right in front of me. I could feel his little arms by my chest. The ball plunks down right in my hand and I go crazy. My dad and friends are hugging me, we are yelling, screaming, chugging beer. When the excitement finally died down. I look to the little kid in front of me who is clearly disappointed and say “Don’t worry kid, there’s always next time” 

Now I know what you must be thinking, wow sick dude, you should have gave the ball to the little kid, to which I would say FUCK THEM KIDS MAN. 24 previous years I never came close to sniffing a foul ball so I’d say he’s way a head of me. Plus I can look at that ball the rest of my life and think of that specific day with my pops and how happy we were. 

BUT, I will make a solemn promise here that moving forward, if I ever caught a foul ball again, I would give it to the closest kid of my choosing. I finally lived out the dream so now I am more than happy showing a little kid some love.