Pete,

I don't know, I think for myself the thrill of catching a home run would have me on cloud nine for days. On top of that, making it Wieters 1st homer would be nuts! Getting some signed gifts from the young stud would be enough for me because otherwise it would be something I would never get. I don't know the whole story but the family should just be grateful for what they already have received, but like I said I don't know the whole story. Hope it works out the right way.

Not being there and not having first-hand knowledge of what hapened doesn't stop most of us from weighing in with our opinions; do you think you're better than us?

I've posted my thoughts previously. To come on here and talk about how pissed you were because of this that or the other, well seems to me just low class.

I think it's great how the O's offered the ball back. I mean seriously, there is no value in that ball unless it's confirmed the official ball. He obviously knew that or the ball would be back in his hands. Sounds like a lawyer got in their ear or something.

Not judging, but I saw the interview with the dude last night & to wake up and read their comments was in very poor taste.

Matt's going to be real nice and genuine after all this fake fuss they've now caused, bad mouthing and essentially trying to extort the kid and the franchise.

Pete,

I thought the standard compensation for such a find was a ball autographed by the entire team in addition to one by whoever hit the home run. On a side note, why would Mr Mayfield even want the ball? Even if Wieters becomes an HOFer, he won't be able to prove his ball was the original HR ball, which would be required by any high-dollar bidder.

Perhaps there is a slight case of the rare afflication "Seller's Remorse," but how many of us attend a game thinking beforehand what we would ask for in the event of some momentous occurence falling at our feet? It all seemed to happen fairly quickly as they hustled the guy out of his seat moments after the fact. And one can't blame Wieters, I would think, because he most likely only knew what he was told by club officials. And the fact that two different officials dealt with Mayfield could I'm sure lead to some confusion over what was agreed to. So the club needs to get the officials who were on the scene together (this provides perfect cover for the team as they could blame miscommunication, whether true or not). That being said, I don't think Mayfield asked for too much - perhaps not what many/most of us would have done, but nothing outrageous. But going on radio and bashing the club (if indeed that is what transpires) solves nothing except allowing people to vent more anger at Angelos, who I'm sure will be the fall-guy for anything negative in this affair. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail, the O's will go out of their way to put a happy ending to this, and the grand occasion can be celebrated by all involved, whether intimately or from afar (I'm an O's fan in South florida). Then we can get on with the exciting business of building, watching, and enjoying a young hungry team rise to the top. A rise that will be made easier by the likes of Wieters and others, supported by the Orioles Faithful.

I agree with Joe. What is wrong with just having the thrill of catching a home run ball at a MLB game! ON top of that Weiter's first HR ball.

Personally, I might have just kept it for myself as a souvineir, but if the O's came to me and asked for it, I would give it. I assume they might offer somehting for it; great, I'll take it and be happy.

People today, it's all about what's in it for me.

I would have been content with giving Wieters his homerun ball myself...I highly doubt he'll forget the fan who delivered his first MAJOR LEAGUE homerun ball back to him. And I'm sure he'd be grateful.

Greed in this country has gone absolutely nuts. Give the athlete the ball back, it means more to him then to any of us and accept what the O's gave him which is more than enough. Everybody now wants something from nothing in that here was a guy who was in the right place at the right time. Sounds like someone got in his ear and told him he settled for too little and if he bitches some more, the O's will cave and give him the world to avoid the bad publicity they'll get. It's all a joke! Greed? when will it stop?

They bait and switched this guy for sure. Don't believe the Orioles front office. Just give him tickets to an upcoming game and let his kids meet Weiters. That is most likely all he wanted.

Is that too much to ask?

This guy comes here, probably a New Yorker, thinking he can strong arm the O's? Is he crazy? He probably wears some sort of funky sweater vest when he's on the golf course trying to look like Jesper Parnavik! He didn't even catch the ball, he dropped it and picked it up. Anyone could have done what he did. The O's should be commended for holding on their original offer.

I don't think he knew what he wanted....he couldn't have. I am sure the guy didn't go to the game thinking, if I catch a home run ball or any ball for that matter and it's off the bat of Wieter's, who hasn't hit one yet, what will I want in return? It played out this way, he was sipping a beer and all of a sudden, here comes the ball, he caught it and got whisked out of there....the O's said here's a an autographed bat and ball and a chance to say hi to Wieter's and off you go. Then, someone, probably the wife and the friend, got in his ear and said "you could have gotten more".........hence the predicament that has been caused.......they should make all the balls that are in hit in fair territory property of MLB and when they are hit in the stands, they must be returned. The club's then can do what they feel is right as a token of appreciation for the fan who caught it. I don't go to ball games thinking I have a chance to hit the so called "lottery" by catching a baseball.

Gotta love the fake outrage… I thought this mess only takes place in politics!

For the love of God stop talking about this story. It is an embarrassment all around!!!

So why does this Sam Mayfield guy feel like he's 'owed' something for catching this Home Run? There's no entitlement here at all. The fact that the O's offered him a chance to meet his favorite player and get autographs is more then generous.

Both Sam Mayfield and his wife should be embarrassed by his conduct as well as ashamed of the example he's setting for his children.

I originally thought the Mayfields were being kind of petty, but after reading Jenn's account in the earlier entry, it sounds pretty reasonable and believable.

Sounds like the Orioles PR folks did a poor job of supervising/coordinating the conversation between the Mayfields and Wieters.

How difficult is it to cough up four tickets in a stadium that regularly has 20,000+ empty seats, and arrange a fifteen minute meeting with the guy's kids? How naive is it for them to not anticipate this would become another PR mess.

At this point, I would not be surprised if Wieter's agent calls and offers the tickets and meeting, bypassing the O's altogether and in the end making them appear worse. While I agree with the purists who suggest the ball should be returned for nothing, I am also reminded of another purist idea, and that is "the customer is always right." It's a reasonably enough request to just comply with and end the matter.

I might feel differently about the innocence of the request if I were to hear WNST's interview; Nestor smells blood in the water and I am sure he will pull out all the stops to embarrass the Orioles on this one. I suspect the Mayfields just reduced themselves to Exhibit R in the case of Aparicio v. Angelos.

This is just so typical of the pete angelos Orioles. Why pick a fight when none is needed? Whether Mayfield asked for more later or if there was some miscommunication, is it really that big of a deal to have him and his family back for a game? It's not like they're all sold out! Why does this team continue to create PR nightmares for itself? Just give him another game with tix for him family to meet Wieters instead of taking a firm stance when none is needed.

The Orioles PR department is having this problem because it’s been years since an Oriole hit a home run that meant anything lol. No but seriously I am just shocked that this thing got so botched and we are talking about it like this. The Orioles PR department should have squashed this situation immediately. Originally I was thinking the dude that caught the ball was a prick but something real whacky must have happened in those dealings for the ball to make him go to these extremes it’s just bizarre on both sides.

Obviously what happened is this guy got a case of "I want more" and just decided to badmouth his way to whatever he could get. He received adequate compensation, what allegedly was agreed upon, and now he gets an attitude because they won't up the ante. Be grateful that you were in the right place at the right time, and graciously accept your reward. As I said in an earlier post, at this time, Wieters is a "may be". If he turns out to be a dud you at least have an autographed bat (not a cheap item BTW), and a ball.

Go O's!

Hey Blake, you say "don't believe the O's front office". Show us all the proof you have to make that statement. And the other ridiculous comment by Jeff about "typical of Pete Angelos Orioles." Ask yourself one question: who would have more to gain by lying about all this?

I would have been thrilled to catch the ball, I would have gave it back to him too, I would be happy with a signed bat and ball, and just to meet him quickly, thats it,, what does this guy want a 81 game season ticket plan?

I was at that game in section 60, he didn't catch the ball....don't give him that much credit.

Come on. Seriously. Nobody owes anyone anything. The fact that he caught a ball and that someone else wants it doesn't mean he can hold it for ransome. Take what the team or player has offered. Be happy with it and move on. The story in the next 20 years will become b-b-que talk for all to hear. Even if it gets exaggerated more and more.

low class fan

This is whats wrong with sports today, everyone is becoming selfish. It first started with players leaving to go after the biggest contracts and not having any loyalty. Now fans expect so much more from teams in return because players are making more so fans "deserve" more.

What happened to being able to enjoy a game for what it is, a game. Its entertainment for us and should stay that way.

That guy should feel happy that he was able to give something back to Wieters and should not expect anything in return.

When did controversy and Baltimore sports start co-existing? Oh, about 1790.

I would have returned the ball, on my will, and grab an autographed bat. Why ask for tickets when they are $8, anyway? MEET HIM?? You could have MET him while he was in Frederick or Bowie (like I did). What a die hard Weiters fam Sam turned out to be.

And red flag on all of this when self-promoting WNST is "on the scene". I think a little ticket validation is needed on Sammy's side. It wasn't too crowded in the left field sections, so his chances were better than average. He didn't even "catch" the ball.

I'm not ruling out that this could be another publicity stunt on NSTs behalf. Especially the "wait until 4PM for my exclusive interview" bait.

Now we're talkin' controversy