Tigers fan offers to return milestone ball, Pujols says give it to HOF
The Detroit Tigers fan who caught Albert Pujols' milestone 2,000th RBI ball just needed some time to decide what to do with it.
After collecting his thoughts, Ely Hydes narrowed it down to two options: he's either giving it back to Pujols or sending it to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
"I slept on it," Hyde told Tony Paul of The Detroit News. "All I ever wanted to do was to sleep on it. I slept on it and I woke up and I think (Pujols) is a class act.
"He's not my player, he's not my guy, I don't deserve the ball.
"I reconsidered. One hundred percent, I'm either going to give it to Pujols or the Hall of Fame. And I don't want any money."
Pujols originally stood firm on his rejection of the ball.
"I won't pay one penny for that," He said following Thursday's game. "He can have it. I don't play this game so I can pay fans so they can give me, you know ... He can have that piece of history, it's for the fans that we play for, too. He has the right to keep it."
After learning of Hydes' decision on Friday, Pujols doubled down.
"I don't want it, brother," he told Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. "He can keep it. He had a chance to give it to me (on Thursday) and he declined. That's fine. It's his right. So, no need to change his mind now. Let him keep it."
Pujols added that Hydes can "give the ball to Cooperstown."
"Hopefully, then, everyone will be happy."
On Thursday, Pujols joined an exclusive club by collecting his 2,000th RBI on a solo home run against the Tigers at Comerica Park. In doing so, he became the third hitter in MLB history to reach the historic milestone, joining Hank Aaron and Alex Rodriguez. Other players would be a part of that club, including Cap Anson and Babe Ruth, though MLB only credits post-1920 RBIs - when it became an official stat.
The solo homer was caught by Hydes, who said he was quickly accosted by ballpark staff. Ultimately, he chose to leave the stadium after the staff wouldn't afford him the time to make a decision.
Tigers staff reportedly offered Hydes a host of items in exchange for the milestone ball, including a separate Pujols-signed ball or jersey along with a meet and greet with Tigers star and two-time MVP Miguel Cabrera. Hydes declined everything, attributing his rejection to the fact he felt pressured.
"I was high on adrenaline," Hydes continued. "I caught a baseball, and I walked out." He also added that one Los Angeles Angels fan reached out to purchase the ball from him for $25,000.