BOSTON -- Red Sox fans have seen the video over and over again. A ground ball to pitcher Keith Foulke. He tosses it underhand to backup first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who raises it high as Boston celebrates its first World Series championship in 86 years.

 

Mientkiewicz still hasn't let go of the ball. But now the Red Sox want it back.

 

Calling the ball, "my retirement fund," Mientkiewicz stored it in a safety deposit box. Red Sox CEO Admin Lucchino said Thursday he's going to ask Mientkiewicz to return it to the team.

 

"We want it to be part of Red Sox archives or museums so it can be shared with the fans," Lucchino told The Boston Globe. "We would hope he would understand the historical nature of it."

 

Mientkiewicz seems to understand it very well, which is exactly why he held on to it.

 

Historic baseballs have recently fetched impressive sums. The baseball Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk banged off the foul pole in the 1975 World Series sold for $113,373. The ball Barry Bonds hit for his 73rd home run went for $450,000. The most expensive baseball of all time is Mark McGwire's 70th homer, which went for $3 million.

 

Mientkiewicz said he thinks the Boston's World Series ball has more value than a home run ball.

 

"Those are important and all, don't get me wrong, but there are always going to be more home runs," he said. "This is something that took 86 years, and 86 years is a long time. Personally, I went through hell and back this year. But winning the World Series is something I'm going to remember for a long time."

 

Mientkiewicz came to Boston from Minnesota in a three-team midseason deal that sent Boston shortstop Nomar Garciaparra to the Chicago Cubs.

 

Mientkiewicz, who batted .215 for Boston, was used primarily as a late innings defensive replacement, and the former Gold Glove first baseman has indicated his unhappiness with the role.

 

Boston broke its championship drought by beating the New York Yankees in seven games in the AL championship series, then sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in four games in the World Series.

 

After the game, Mientkiewicz said he put the ball in his locker, then gave it to his wife, Jodi, who put it in her purse. The next day, the ball was authenticated by Major League Baseball.

 

Carmine Tiso, spokesman for MLB, told the Globe that Mientkiewicz owns the baseball, though Joe Januszewski, Red Sox director of corporate partnerships, said he thinks the team owns it.

 

Mientkiewicz couldn't be reached for comment Thursday by the Globe after Lucchino said the club wanted the ball back. But on Wednesday, he left no doubt that he believes the ball belongs to him.

 

"I know this ball has a lot of sentimental value," Mientkiewicz said. "I hope I don't have to use it for the money. It would be cool if we have kids someday to have it stay in our family for a long time. But I can be bought. I'm thinking, there's four years at Florida State for one of my kids. At least."

But I can be bought. I'm thinking, there's four years at Florida State for one of my kids. At least.

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Well geez at least he has a good tatse is schools. :plain

I guess the kids are a little slow.

 

 

 

Watch this thing get ugly and him sent down to the minors. :whistle

But I can be bought. I'm thinking, there's four years at Florida State for one of my kids. At least.

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Well geez at least he has a good tatse is schools. :plain

I guess the kids are a little slow.

 

 

 

Watch this thing get ugly and him sent down to the minors. :whistle

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well, he went to FSU

He should hold onto it for now but sell it to the Sox in years to come.

He should threaten to sell it to the yanks.

Personally, I went through hell and back this year.

 

Went through hell? Being traded from the Twins to the Red Sox doesnt sound like hell and certainly 3 months in Boston isnt hell.. What an idiot!

 

I guess that's why they called em idiots last year.. No wonder!

What if he's talking about something else? You don't know what goes on in his personal life.

I think he's entitled to keep the ball.

It was a team victory, so it's a team ball. I don't know all the details of major league player contracts, but in any typical employer-employee relationship he would be obligated to give the ball back if asked.

 

Seriously I have no problem with him keeping it but did he win the World Series by himself? Heck no. His .210 BA certainly didnt help but his defense at the end did.

 

Maybe he wasnt happy the way he was being used so he figures he'd piss the Sox off by keeping the ball?

 

Or else he could have had personal problems but what's that gotta do with keeping a baseball from a team sport?

I am guessing that maybe he had some personal issues and winning the World Series was something he really needed to cheer up. What the hell do I know, I am just saying. *shrugs*

The media is drilling him.

 

Mientalphabet's wife posted on the Red Sox forum pleading for her husband not to look like an ass.

 

He has alot of egg on his face right now.

 

Kevin Millar is def. staying.

what a loser. hes a rich man. let go of the petty ball

i love it.

 

 

he should keep it.

 

 

let the red sox pry it out of his hands, or pay him off.

if he wants to keep him is his right, no one can take it from him. The Sox have the trophy to show their WS victory, IMO is up Doug to decide the ball's fate. This is also a very smart move by him. Im also sure that in his contract theres nothing that prohibits him from keeping the ball.

Calling the ball, "my retirement fund," Mientkiewicz stored it in a safety deposit box.

 

Funny stuff, I don't think he has any legal obligation to give the ball back to the Sox if he doesn't then he should do as he pleases.

if he wants to keep him is his right, no one can take it from him. The Sox have the trophy to show their WS victory, IMO is up Doug to decide the ball's fate. This is also a very smart move by him. Im also sure that in his contract theres nothing that prohibits him from keeping the ball.

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Yeah, he knows full well that ball is worth big bucks I don't see why people think he should hand it over and lose out on some serious dough. I mean he got traded there midseason and was used coming off the bench mostly, I really doubt he lives for the Sox organization...

A guy trying to screw over the Red Sox? And a Seminole? Talk about a badass.

 

*Buys Mientkiewicz jersey*

A guy trying to screw over the Red Sox? And a Seminole? Talk about a badass.

 

*Buys Mientkiewicz jersey*

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Hope you pick the right team.

IMO he should have a right to keep it. If I'm him, I demand money for the ball if the Sox want it.

What if he's talking about something else? You don't know what goes on in his personal life.

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During the Playoffs he was pissed because he was deep on the bench.

The guy is a loser...he has no right to that ball. It's not like he is a fan. If your boss tells you to give him the stapler in your office...you hand it over. I'm pretty sure Josh Beckett isn't hoarding the ball from the Marlins WS victory. He'll end up returning the ball...the backlash he will soon receive will be overwhelming...I guarantee it.

A Millionaire looking to make a few extra bucks (by his standard) with a ball. Why no auction the ball for the Tsunami victims or something like that?

A Millionaire looking to make a few extra bucks (by his standard) with a ball. Why no auction the ball for the Tsunami victims or something like that?

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This is not a 'few extra bucks', even by the standards of a multimilllionaire 5 times over. Bonds' 73rd home run ball went for well over 3 million dollars and this ball that Mientkiewicz has is undoubtedly worth just as much, if not more. Majority of people even consider it to be priceless and a large portion of the top 1% of America lives in New England and guaranteed at least a couple of them are Sox fans and willing to spend 10+ million.

 

I agree, he could auction it off and donate the money to tsunami victims or something, but he's not. I'm sure if this drags out for more than a couple weeks he'll end up doing something like that though.

The guy is a loser...he has no right to that ball. It's not like he is a fan. If your boss tells you to give him the stapler in your office...you hand it over. I'm pretty sure Josh Beckett isn't hoarding the ball from the Marlins WS victory. He'll end up returning the ball...the backlash he will soon receive will be overwhelming...I guarantee it.

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He's not a loser, he's smart.

 

Mientkiewicz has done nothing wrong, he was in the right place at the right time. Sure, he didn't do much to earn that ball, he got lucky... just like any fan that would have caught it in the stands. It says a lot about his character that he won't give the ball back to the Sox, however he is free to do whatever he wants with it because it is his ball.

 

Also, Mientkiewicz already stated that he would gladly loan the ball to go on permanent display at Cooperstown but if someone wants to buy it from him (i.e. the Sox), they need to pay up. Period. The Sox don't want the ball in Cooperstown, they want it in their own personal "archives". The ball should not be in the hands of a private person, the hands of Mientkiewicz, or even in the personal archives of the Sox, it should be at Cooperstown and no place else.

 

Mientkiewicz said he would gladly allow the ball to be displayed at Cooperstown where it could be on permanent display to the public, so what's the problem?

A Millionaire looking to make a few extra bucks (by his standard) with a ball. Why no auction the ball for the Tsunami victims or something like that?

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This is not a 'few extra bucks', even by the standards of a multimilllionaire 5 times over. Bonds' 73rd home run ball went for well over 3 million dollars and this ball that Mientkiewicz has is undoubtedly worth just as much, if not more. Majority of people even consider it to be priceless and a large portion of the top 1% of America lives in New England and guaranteed at least a couple of them are Sox fans and willing to spend 10+ million.

 

I agree, he could auction it off and donate the money to tsunami victims or something, but he's not. I'm sure if this drags out for more than a couple weeks he'll end up doing something like that though.

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Barry Bonds' 73rd homerun went for $405k. Mark McGwire's 70th went for $3 million.