Bob_R
09-28-2004, 08:13 PM
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The San Francisco Giants fan who caught Barry Bonds' 700th homer is being sued by another man who says he was the rightful owner of the prized ball, which he maintains was stolen from him during a mad scramble.
According to a restraining order to be filed in state court Tuesday, Timothy Murphy said Steve Williams stole the historic blast from him during a melee in the left-center field bleachers at SBC Park on Sept. 17.
"Immediately after the 700 home run ball fell to the area of plaintiff's feet, plaintiff established possession, dominion and control over the ball by sitting on it and securing it with his right leg," according to the suit.
Williams said in an interview that he did not steal the ball but found it at the bottom of the heap of people.
"We all got in this pile. Their were people everywhere," the 26-year-old from Pacifica said. He said he did not kick, punch or accost anybody to obtain the baseball.
"I didn't do any of that," he said.
Murphy could not be immediately located for comment. A message left with his San Jose attorneys Monday night was not immediately returned.
Bonds became the first new member of the 700 club in 31 years, joining Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. He has 703 career home runs and is closing in on Ruth (714) and Aaron (755).
It's not the first time fans headed to court over the fate of a Bonds homer. In October 2001, Bonds' record-setting 73rd homer of the season sparked litigation that ended when a judge ordered both men to split the $450,000 the ball fetched.
That case included experts in baseball and ownership discussing the rightful owner of baseballs hit into the stands.
With no legal precedent to determine the outcome, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Kevin McCarthy said that both Alex Popov and Patrick Hayashi each have a legitimate claim and neither should get the ball outright.
Both sides agreed a videotape showed the ball in Popov's glove. They couldn't agree on what defines possession - Popov's split-second catch or Hayashi's final grab.
Comic book icon Todd McFarlane paid $3.2 million for Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball in 1999.
According to a restraining order to be filed in state court Tuesday, Timothy Murphy said Steve Williams stole the historic blast from him during a melee in the left-center field bleachers at SBC Park on Sept. 17.
"Immediately after the 700 home run ball fell to the area of plaintiff's feet, plaintiff established possession, dominion and control over the ball by sitting on it and securing it with his right leg," according to the suit.
Williams said in an interview that he did not steal the ball but found it at the bottom of the heap of people.
"We all got in this pile. Their were people everywhere," the 26-year-old from Pacifica said. He said he did not kick, punch or accost anybody to obtain the baseball.
"I didn't do any of that," he said.
Murphy could not be immediately located for comment. A message left with his San Jose attorneys Monday night was not immediately returned.
Bonds became the first new member of the 700 club in 31 years, joining Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. He has 703 career home runs and is closing in on Ruth (714) and Aaron (755).
It's not the first time fans headed to court over the fate of a Bonds homer. In October 2001, Bonds' record-setting 73rd homer of the season sparked litigation that ended when a judge ordered both men to split the $450,000 the ball fetched.
That case included experts in baseball and ownership discussing the rightful owner of baseballs hit into the stands.
With no legal precedent to determine the outcome, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Kevin McCarthy said that both Alex Popov and Patrick Hayashi each have a legitimate claim and neither should get the ball outright.
Both sides agreed a videotape showed the ball in Popov's glove. They couldn't agree on what defines possession - Popov's split-second catch or Hayashi's final grab.
Comic book icon Todd McFarlane paid $3.2 million for Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball in 1999.