Air Force Sergeant Catches Pujols’ 500th Home Run, Honorably Gives Ball Back To Albert

Ashley Schaeffer BMW11 years ago

Last night, Albert Pujols became the third youngest player in the history of Major League Baseball to eclipse the 500 home run mark, joining a heralded company of 25 other players who have accomplished the massive feat. Really impressive, considering there have been some 18,000 players in the MLB since the league was commissioned in 1876.

On the receiving end of Pujols’ history-making bomb was Tom Sherrill, a longtime Angels fan and staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. On the heels of such a monumental catch, Sherrill was, of course, escorted up the the announcer’s box, so that Angels’ broadcasters Victor Rojas and Mark Gubicza could ask his thoughts on the evening’s events.

Like a true fan, Sherrill quickly asserted he wanted to give the ball back to Pujols, saying, “I just want to make sure Albert gets the ball. I’m just happy to be a part of it.” He went on to add, “I’ll take whatever they want to give me, but I’m not going to be picky.”

You’ve really got to respect Sherrill’s nonchalantness about giving the ball back to Pujols, who is obviously its rightful owner, instead of holding onto it and trying to turn a profit or something like that. But, I wouldn’t expect anything less than this kind of selflessness from a fine serviceman of our military.

Plus, Sherrill probably wouldn’t trade the story of giving the 500 ball to Albert for anything in world–the two met in the clubhouse after the game and swapped some memorabilia.

Nice move, Staff Sergeant Sherrill. My guess is that this ball ends up in Cooperstown one day, and with it, the awesome story of the military man who caught it one fateful night in April.

Writing yourself into the history books. It’s a TFM.

[via Sports Glory]

Image via Twitter