Ballhawk Zack Hample takes spill while chasing down HR ball

Baseball collector Zack Hample poses for a photo with Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees after giving Rodriguez the ball from his 3,000th hit at Yankee Stadium. Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Notorious ballhawk Zack Hample takes spill while chasing down home run ball

Originally posted on Sportress of Blogitude
By Jason Rowan | Last updated 4/20/21

Zack Hample, a self-described “professional ballhawk” who has cultivated a polarizing reputation over the years due to his ballpark antics, gracelessly took a nasty spill this week while chasing down a home run ball.

The comical incident occurred Monday when Hample attempted to track down a ball following a two-run homer by San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Hample’s humiliating pratfall occurred when he attempted to leap over a row of seats as he closed in on the ball.

This fan went after Brandon Belt's home run ball and let's just say it didn't end well What an effort though

(via @NBCSGiants) pic.twitter.com/71Y79gLxPA
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 20, 2021

Footage of Hample eating it spread like wildfire on social media, and most of the reactions featured a healthy dose of mock and ridicule over the wipeout.

Hample did later confirm that he was indeed the individual in the video. He also acknowledged there were no shortage of “haters” on social media cracking wise over his embarrassing spill.

To all my friends who've been texting/DM-ing to ask if I'm okay, thank you! I'm fine. And to all the haters, I'll be back at it tomorrow at a different stadium.
— Zack Hample (@zack_hample) April 20, 2021

Baseball fans may remember how Hample notoriously wrangled the home run ball Alex Rodriguez deposited into the Yankee Stadium seats for his 3,000th hit back in 2015. No shortage of controversy ensued in the aftermath, including Hample’s claim that he was assaulted in Yankee Stadium. He later revealed that he was subjected to threats on social media after securing A-Rod’s milestone-securing baseball.

This article first appeared on Sportress of Blogitude and was syndicated with permission.

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