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Zack Hample
Hample in 2008
Born	Zachary Ben Hample (1977-09-14) September 14, 1977 (age 47) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Guilford College
Years active	1990–present
Known for	Collecting baseballs
Relatives	Stoo Hample (father)
Website	zackhample.com

Zachary Ben Hample (born September 14, 1977) is an American baseball collector. Hample claims to have collected more than 12,000 baseballs from Major League stadiums, including Alex Rodriguez's 3,000th career hit and Mike Trout's first career home run.

Hample has been criticized by sportswriters, players, and fans, due to his aggressive tactics to collect baseballs.

Early life

Hample was raised in New York City. He is the son of author, performer, playwright and cartoonist Stoo Hample. He developed an interest in baseball at the age of five. He hoped to play Major League Baseball and later began collecting baseball memorabilia.

Baseball collection history

This section may be too long and excessively detailed. Please consider summarizing the material. (October 2022)

The first baseball that Hample caught at a game was at Shea Stadium in 1990. Hample has described his interest in catching foul balls as "a passion." He has said his obsession for catching balls developed "when I got my first ball, it’s like it multiplied from there. I wanted it so bad, not just one, I wanted another, and another and another."

Hample caught his 6,000th baseball in 2012. By 2022, he claimed that he had caught 12,000 balls. He developed a device for catching balls at stadiums made out of a baseball glove, rubber band and pen.

Hample claims to have developed a number of relationships with current and former professional baseball players including Richard Bleier, Heath Bell, and Jeremy Guthrie.

Hample's baseball collecting has been controversial inside and outside the game of baseball. Hample's aggressive tactics have resulted in widespread criticism from sportswriters. According to Hample, Clayton Kershaw once refused to give him a ball, saying that he already had "7,000 of 'em."

A documentary about Hample was released in 2022.

Notable events

In 2008, Hample caught the last Mets homerun hit at Shea Stadium. On April 18, 2013, Hample caught two home run balls during a game at Yankee Stadium, including the first career homer of shortstop Didi Gregorius. He also caught the first career home runs of Mike Trout and Mike Nickeas, and Barry Bonds' 724th home run.

In June 2015, Hample caught Alex Rodriguez's 3,000th career hit, which was a home run. Hample initially refused to return the ball, saying "I'll give him the finger and a dummy ball. That man deserves favors from no one, least of all a fan." However, he eventually agreed to give the ball to Rodriguez as part of an agreement with the Yankees where the organization donated $150,000 to Pitch In For Baseball. Hample also personally received an autographed jersey, two autographed bats, a VIP backstage tour of the stadium and tickets to the 2015 MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby as part of his deal.

Hample acquired a ticket to the Fort Bragg Game on July 3, 2016, at Fort Bragg Stadium that was meant for active duty military personnel and their friends and families. Hample had publicly offered $1,000 to anyone who would give him a ticket. After receiving widespread criticism for taking the ticket, Hample announced that he would donate $100 for every ball he collected to a charity for military veterans. Hample claimed to have caught 11 balls and said he would donate $1,100 to AMVETS. He later posted a apology on Twitter.

In August 2022, Hample attempted to enter a prohibited section at Coors Field, which required a specific ticket for entry, to catch a Nolan Arenado home run ball. After Hample refused to comply, a group of security guards told him he must remain seated or he would be ejected from the game. Hample agreed, but complained about the "fan experience." According to a Twitter post, a Rockies usher also claimed Hample had grabbed a ball dropped by a young fan and refused to return it when asked. In response to the incident, Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman criticized Hample, calling him "a loser." The Portland Pickles, a collegiate summer baseball team, announced that they had banned Hample from attending games at Walker Stadium following the incident. Hample later removed a video about the incident from his channel and posted an apology.

Writing

Hample has written several books about baseball. His first book, How to Snag Major League Baseballs (1999), is about ballhawking.

His second book Watching Baseball Smarter (2007) is an introduction to the mechanics and rules of baseball, and was mostly well received by critics. Craig Smith of The Seattle Times wrote that it "isn’t the first book to take on the challenge of explaining baseball intricacies, but I’ve never seen it done better." Publishers Weekly called it "an invaluable resource for armchair fans."

In 2011, Hample published his third book, The Baseball: Stunts, Scandals, and Secrets Beneath the Stitches, which chronicles the history of baseballs. Mike Shannon, editor-in-chief of Spitball magazine, described The Baseball as the "new authority on the subject." Kirkus Reviews gave a positive review, writing that it "provides plenty of revelations to even the most passionate follower of the game." Blogcritics described the book as entertaining and accessible to both baseball fans and readers unfamiliar with the sport.

Other activities

Helicopter stunts

On July 2, 2012, Hample attempted to catch a baseball dropped from a helicopter 1,000 feet above LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Massachusetts. Wearing catcher's gear that was donated by Rawlings, Hample caught a softball dropped from a height of 312 feet. He then caught baseballs dropped from heights of 562 feet and 822 feet before the Federal Aviation Administration called off the stunt due to strong winds. The 822-foot catch was initially thought to be 762 feet, but a discrepancy in the altimeter settings, which was captured on video and discovered months later, added 60 feet to the altitude. On July 13, 2013, Hample made another attempt at LeLacheur Park and succeeded in catching a baseball dropped from an altitude of 1,050 feet.

The catch is not recognized as a record by Guinness World Records, as no one from the organization was in attendance to verify the attempt.

Video games

Hample, a competitive video game player, appeared briefly in the 2007 documentary The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. According to Twin Galaxies, he holds official world records on half a dozen classic video games including Breakout (896 points) and Arkanoid (1,658,110 points).

Fundraising

According to Pitch in for Baseball and Softball, a non-profit charity that provides baseball and softball equipment to underprivileged children, Hample has raised "tens of thousands" of dollars for the organization. He raises the money with help from fans, who pledge money for every baseball that he snags at Major League stadiums, and from BIGS Sunflower Seeds, who sponsored him during the 2013 season.

Personal life

Hample lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Hample is Jewish and his brother, Joe, is a rabbi.

Hample's family owns and operates Argosy Book Store, and was the focus of the 2019 documentary The Booksellers.

References

1. "Record-setting baseball collector Zack Hample visits the Cell". Chicago Tribune.
2. "Is Zack Hample Cool? Or is he a Weirdo?". Crossing Broad. April 1, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
3. ^ "Rockies Usher Claims Zack Hample Stole a Ball Intended For a Kid". The Big Lead. September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
4. Hickey, Brian (September 19, 2010). "Did Ballhound Zack Hample Muscle Out a Kid For a Souvenir?". Deadspin. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
5. Lozo, Dave (July 4, 2016). "Everyone, Including The U.S. Military, Is Angry With MLB's Most Famous Ball Collector". Uproxx. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
6. ^ Weber, Bruce (September 24, 2010). "Stuart E. Hample, Humorist and Cartoonist, Dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
7. ^ Prewitt, Alex (July 3, 2012). "Catching baseballs is in Zack Hample's blood". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
8. "Zack Hample vs the World, Sort Of". Twins Daily. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
9. ^ "AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MAN WHO CAUGHT A-ROD'S 3000TH HIT, ZACK HAMPLE". Fox Sports. June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
10. "MLB collector Zack Hample missing Yankees' Aaron Judge chase historic home runs". Yardbarker. September 21, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
11. "Ballhawks". The New Yorker. September 30, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
12. Petchesky, Barry (June 30, 2016). "Ballhawk Zack Hample Throws Fit Because Someone Else Wanted A Baseball". Deadspin.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
13. Petchesky, Barry (July 1, 2016). "Against Ballhawking". Deadspin.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
14. Adair, Jim (August 31, 2016). "Zack Hample Rubbed His Ego-Maniacal Weasel Stink All Over CBP". Crossing Broad. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
15. Ley, Tom (September 20, 2012). "Ballhawk Zack Hample Was Kicked Out Of Nationals Park Last Night, And He Is Pissed About It". Retrieved January 20, 2020.
16. Terranova, Justin (June 20, 2017). "Why this ballhawk is baseball's most hated fan". New York Post. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
17. Ames, Jeff (March 30, 2022). "Zack Hample vs. the World Review: Baseball Collector Documentary Impresses". ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
18. Kraft, Tim (April 7, 2022). "Zack Hample vs. The World: New Jeff Siegel Documentary Humanizes Ballhawk". MovieWeb. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
19. Silver, Stephen (March 29, 2022). "Zack Hample vs. the World Follows Baseball's Most Notorious Ballhawk". Tilt Magazine. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
20. Zack Hample Catches 2 Home Runs During Yankees-Diamondbacks Game (AP/Huffington Post)
21. "Good Day for Gregorius, Better Day for Fan". Fox Sports Arizona. April 19, 2013.
22. Brennan, Sean; O'Leary, Daniel (April 19, 2013). "Famous baseball collector Zack Hample catches home runs by Didi Gregorius and Francisco Cervelli at Thursday night's Yankees game". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
23. "Diamondbacks vs. Yankees - Game Recap - April 18, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
24. "Noted ballhawk Zack Hample makes enemies of the 82nd Airborne division". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
25. "Zack Hample backtracks, says chance Yankees and Alex Rodriguez get 3,000th hit baseball". The New York Daily News. June 24, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
26. Raynor, Grace (July 3, 2015). "Fan presents 3,000th hit ball to A-Rod". mlb.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
27. "A-Rod, Yanks settle dispute, he gets ball from 3,000th hit". USA Today. Associated Press. July 3, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
28. Rovell, Darren (July 3, 2016). "Ball hawk's presence at Fort Bragg causes stir". espn.go.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
29. Axisa, Mike (July 4, 2016). "Noted ballhawk donating $100 to charity for each ball caught at Fort Bragg game". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
30. Axisa, Mike (July 4, 2016). "There's a petition to ban notorious ballhawk Zack Hample from MLB ballparks". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
31. Rodger Mullen Staff. "Baseball collector apologizes for attending Fort Bragg Game". Fayobserver.com. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
32. Rosvoglou, Chris (August 27, 2022). "Look: Meet The MLB Fan Everyone's Hating On This Week". The Spun. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
33. Kinkead, Kevin (August 31, 2022). "The Portland Pickles BANNED Zack Hample from their Stadium". Crossing Broad. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
34. Sanchez, Robert (August 31, 2022). "YouTuber (Kinda, Sorta) Apologizes for Video Takedown of Coors Field Security". 5280.com. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
35. "How to Snag Major Legue Baseballs". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
36. Maresca, Dr Joseph S. (October 11, 2012). "Book Review: Watching Baseball Smarter - A Professional Fan Guide for Beginners, Semi - Experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks by Zack Hample". seattlepi.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
37. "Watching Baseball Smarter: A Professional Fan's Guide for Beginners, Semi-experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks by Zack Hample". www.publishersweekly.com. December 31, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
38. Smith, Craig (July 20, 2007). ""Watching Baseball Smarter" a gem at explaining the diamond sport". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
39. "Watching Baseball Smarter: A Professional Fan's Guide for Beginners, Semi-experts, and Deeply Serious Geeks by Zack Hample". www.publishersweekly.com. December 31, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
40. "a book review by J. W. Nicklaus: The Baseball: Stunts, Scandals, and Secrets Beneath the Stitches". www.nyjournalofbooks.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
41. "Spitball Magazine - Baseball Books Reviewed: The Baseball". www.spitballmag.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
42. THE BASEBALL | Kirkus Reviews.
43. xoxoxoe (March 24, 2011). "Book Review: The Baseball: Stunts, Scandals, and Secrets Beneath the Stitches by Zack Hample". Blogcritics. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
44. Scoggins, Chaz (July 8, 2012). "This baseball stunt goes way back". The Sun. Lowell, Mass. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
45. Hample tries to catch history in Lowell, Minorleaguebaseball.com
46. "The flight of the ballhawk - Sports - the Boston Globe". articles.boston.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
47. Le Marie, Nicole (July 14, 2013). "Zack Hample catches baseball dropped from 1,000 feet". Metro. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
48. Johnson, Blair (July 16, 2013). "Zack Hample's helicopter drop catch". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
49. "Guilford College graduate Zack Hample catches baseball dropped from 1,050 feet". Charlotte News & Observer.
50. Jolivet, Lindsay (July 15, 2013). "Baseball collector breaks world record after catching ball thrown from helicopter". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
51. "Interview with Zack Hample at Funspot". Twin Galaxies. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
52. "*True* arcade gaming world records page". Classicarcadegaming.com. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
53. "Arkanoid arcade video game by Taito (1986)". Arcade-history.com. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
54. "Scores of Zachary Hample". www.twingalaxies.com. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
55. "Zack Hample". Pitch In For Baseball. November 30, 2017.
56. BIGS® Sunflower Seeds and the Greatest Ballhawk of All-time Go For an Amazing Baseball Record to Benefit Charity, Yahoo! Finance
57. "Life's a ball for savvy collector". New Jersey Jewish News. August 23, 2007. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
58. "Review: 'The Booksellers': If you love books, you'll adore this documentary". Los Angeles Times. April 16, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
59. "Our Team". Argosy Book Store. Retrieved July 4, 2021.

External links

• Official blog
• Official website

• 1977 births
• 21st-century American non-fiction writers
• American bloggers
• American booksellers
• American sportswriters
• Baseball spectators
• Baseball writers
• American collectors
• Guilford College alumni
• Living people
• Writers from New York City
• American Jews
• Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School alumni
• Baseball memorabilia