Woman Phillies Fan On Franco Home Run Ball: 'He Took The Ball Out Of My Hand'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco hit his first Major League home run on Sunday. That's not debatable. Who caught the keepsake baseball, well that part is.
A Phillies fan named Joyce had the ball taken from her hands by a middle-aged man. The video went viral on Monday.
"He took the ball out of my hands," Joyce told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on Monday. "It was my hand, I was trying to get a better grip on it because I'm only 4 [foot], 10 [inches]. I can't reach over the fence too well and he just shoved me aside and took it out of my hand."
Listen: Joyce joins the 94WIP Morning Show
Franco's home run just got over the fence into the flower bed, in left-field. Joyce's 6'5" husband had left the seats, just prior to Franco's home run.
"We got tickets from a friend and my husband had gone up to concessions and hands me the glove and said, 'Here, protect yourself with this.' And when he hit [Franco] hit that ball, I knew from the one from the fourth inning it was coming our way," Joyce explained. "And I got up, put my hand out. I believe it hit my glove, if it didn't go in it and fall out. But I was reaching in the flower bed to get it and he just came running over, pushed me aside, and took it out of my hand.
"He [the man who grabbed the ball] came back with some sort of certificate in his hand," Joyce continued. "So, I guess they must've taken him because it was the home run and they took the ball because it was Franco's first home run."
Does Joyce feel robbed?
"Oh absolutely."
On Tuesday morning, Joyce joined the 94WIP Morning Show in-studio where she received a signed Carlos Ruiz baseball and Angelo Cataldi bobble head. The Phillies also decided to give Joyce a signed Maikel Franco bat and the opportunity to attend a game and meet the 22-year-old third baseman.
Looks like Joyce is one who makes out like a bandit!
