Collecting Game-used: Curtis Granderson self-fielded chopper

They can't all be the longballs.

In fact, most game-used baseballs that arrive into collectors' hands are far from that. They're often the near-anonymous pitch in the dirt or an even worse (unless you collect pitchers) swing-and-miss that touched absolutely nothing but leather.

But this one from Curtis Granderson? It's a bit different -- and the video I found researching this one shows you nearly every step in the life of this baseball.

You can keep reading to see the details ... and the ball in action.

THE BASICS ...
Game-used baseball (MLB Authenticated): New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Aug. 12, 2017
Watch it in action: Right here it's put into play at 3:03:35 and it survived until 3:04:08

The matchup: Phillies RP Ricardo Pinto vs. Mets pinch-hitter Curtis Granderson
The result: Foul ball in eighth inning

What's Buzz-worthy: This was a ball I received in a Fanatics Phillies grab bag for about the price of two blaster boxes and it seemed simple enough -- if not bland -- except for the multi-time All-Star veteran who was on the receiving end of this one. A look at the play-by-play and authentication, though, is the first way that this ball can seem a little more interesting. First, some trivia. This ball comes from a 3-1 Phillies win where Pinto picked up his second career hold, Granderson walked in a pinch-hitting appearance in his 1,756th career game and it was a contest so early in the career of rookie Rhys Hoskins that he was playing in just his third game and still didn't have a single hit (that was next time), let alone any of his 72 home runs. This ball survived exactly one pitch as part of a 12-pitch at-bat where Granderson fouled off not one, not two but six balls before getting the walk. This was pitch No. 8 in the at-bat (13th of the inning) and he chopped it at the plate -- and off his right shin protector. After that, Granderson fell a bit off balance to the opposite side of the plate before walking if off by walking over to the ball and flipping it toward the Phillies dugout. That's where a batboy takes it off camera to the authenticator -- you literally see the entire life of the ball, except for the stickering, thanks to the camera work following Granderson. It must have been a tad muddy that night somewhere on the infield and the ball has an interesting blue blotch on it. I doubt that came from Granderson's shin guard, but you never know. All in all, this was a pretty cool find for a mystery pick-up ... thanks to the video.

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

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