Collecting Game-used: A new star, a single ... and a Polar Bear?

Bought it for one reason and one reason only ... and then it arrived with two other stars attached.

This latest entry in the Collecting Game-used series is another that came to me via a blind grab bag where all I knew was the date of the game ... and yet this was another impressive ball in terms of its star power. In short, this one was the kind of ball typically not destined for a mystery box.

The initial reason I picked the date of this baseball? This game was just the second in the career of Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood and that alone was good enough for me to grab one -- a debut ball would have cost me substantially more ($1,199 last I looked) and I figured anything here would have story potential -- but then this turned out to be a base hit for one younger New York Mets star and then a foul ball for a franchise player.

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and the ball in action.

THE BASICS ...
Game-used ball (MLB Authenticated): New York Mets at Washington Nationals -- July 2, 2024
Watch it in action: Four pitches as part of two at-bats all of which can be found at the MLB Film Room -- but the two that made contact are embedded below.

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The matchups: Nationals SP D.J. Herz vs. Mets 3B Mark Vientos & Herz vs. 1B Pete Alonso in the first inning of a 7-2 Mets victory.
The results: A single to right-center for Vientos and then two no-contact strikes -- a called strike and a whiff to Alonso -- before perhaps what might the weakest foul ball in MLB history ... watch that clip!

What's Buzz-worthy: Sure, that foul ball doesn't say "Pete Alonso" at all as it ultimately landed on the inside line of the batter's box after going off either the knob or handle of his bat -- they're supposed to go screaming into the stands to maim an unsuspecting fan not paying attention too the game while on their laptop or phone (wait, that was Fever Pitch) -- but it still counts. Meanwhile, a single for any player typically can command a slight premium and Vientos' 27 homers last year certainly puts him among the Mets notables ... so that makes this a good ball on its own in terms of possibilities. Many baseballs are pitch in dirt, untouched ball or strike stuff ... actual contact is better and then the bigger the name or better ... or the younger the better. Atop that, this being from the second career game for a notable prospect and potential future star makes this ball one of some trivial substance. I figured if his name was attached in any possible way as a fielder it might be a plus, but the only other Nats to handle this were OF Lane Thomas and C Keibert Ruiz. (It was Wood's first career 0-fer as he went 0-for-3 with his second career walk and his first caught-stealing out.) So, in summation, a hit, a foul from a long-term star and a near-debut game -- not bad for a grab bag that was cheaper than many retail card boxes. I'll take it.

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>> See all past Collecting Game-used stories from Buzz here

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