The "glove trick"
Throughout this season (and beyond), you're gonna hear me talking a lot about the "glove trick." Some of you already know about this, but for those who don't, here's the story...
When I was eight, I saw a fan on TV using a fishing pole to lower an empty soup can over a ball that was sitting beyond his reach on the field below. The can descended...slowly...slowly...until it dropped over the ball, and when the guy lifted it, the ball was gone. Poof! Just like that. I couldn't believe it, and the memory stuck.
Six years later, I started attending games regularly and began to drool over all the balls that rolled into the left field corner during batting practice at Yankee Stadium. I tried to make my own can, but it was clunky and rarely worked when I practiced with it at home. I brought it to one game in 1992, but BP was wiped out by a last-minute thunderstorm, and I gave up on the idea.
The following season, inspiration struck. Instead of a can with sharp edges and three-pound dumbbells tied to the top, all I needed was my glove, a rubber band, a Sharpie, and some string. I practiced in my room, and the thing worked. It was easy to set up and didn't require materials that might be confiscated. I started getting more baseballs than ever. Fans always asked how I did it. Players often came over for a look. This is what they all wanted to know:
1) The materials. Tie the string to the handle of your glove and keep it tucked away in the palm when you're not using it. It's a bit uncomfortable at first, but you'll get used to it.
2) Hook the band under the flap on the outside of your glove's pocket. (If there's no flap, you have two choices: improvise or get a new glove.)
3) Stretch the band over the tip of your glove and prop the glove open with the Sharpie. (Without the Sharpie, the glove won't stay open. Normal pens don't work as well because they're thin and sometimes slip through the spaces between the fingers. When you have everything set up, the space between the band and the tip of the glove needs to be slightly smaller than the ball.)
4) Lower your glove over the ball. (At this point, you'll be dangling the glove by the string. I'm just holding the glove itself so I could take a decent pic. Anyway, the glove's weight forces the band to stretch around the ball. But first make sure that the band is not too tight or the ball won't go in, or too loose or the ball won't stay in. This takes practice.
Alliance's Size 117B rubber bands work best for me.)
5) It's a delicate operation. Lift the glove slowly so the ball doesn't fall out. (This is the view from below, complete with the ceiling light in the hallway outside my apartment. Notice how the band has stretched back to hold the ball in place.)
A few years ago, Rick Reilly named this trick the "ZackTrap" in a story for Sports Illustrated, and Rosie O'Donnell had me perform it live on her show. Good times, yes, but I've also gotten a few lectures along the way from stadium security. Some ballparks don't allow these kinds of contraptions, others have no problem with them, and a few have policies that fall somewhere in the middle. (For example, when I visited Oakland in 1999, security allowed the fans to fish for balls behind the outfield walls, but wouldn't let us pluck them off the field.) It's hard to keep track of the rules, especially when they vary from one usher to the next, so be careful and respectful and ask for permission first. Oh, and don't tell anyone how the trick works. It's a secret.
Won't the sharpie fall out?
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Not if you do it right. You just have to wedge it in there, and then the pressure from the glove and rubber band should hold it in place. All I can say is: TRY IT.
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Z,
It was a good night at Ameriquest, 4 balls. 3 with the 'pickup' device, and one from Randy Messenger of the Marlins.
It was a really boring snagging session. There were lots of people, and it was one of those nights when if I left an area, boom, here comes a BP homer in the area I vacated. Then I move again. Hey look, right where I was a minute ago.
However, 4 balls is a solid day for me. Later man.
Dan
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Thanks for the happy recap, Dan. Sometimes, we're all gonna have frustrating days...but if we manage to plow through them with a few balls (or in this case four), then we have to feel pretty good.
Keep the updates coming...
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Yeah, and you know what? It is SO easy to get a ball when the guys are warming up. I just ask, "Hey (first name, of course), could I the ball when you're done?". Easy way to get a ball.
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Zack, have you ever had any other fans fight you for balls that you've collected using your "ZackTrap"?
Any other fan based altercations while snagging baseballs?
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DAN-
You're right. Often, that's all it takes.
THOMAS-
Sometimes, when I'm lifting the glove back up, fans will reach out and try to grab the ball out of it...or just try to knock it loose so no one will get it. (Funny how that usually only happens at Yankee Stadium.) I've been in lots of altercations over the years. Mostly, people just get mad when I catch ball after ball after ball. I've had fans intentionally shove me...even grab my glove and pull my arm down so I wouldn't have a chance to catch a ball...but I've never shoved back. That's not my style. (At Yankee Stadium, I'm too scared I'll get stabbed.)
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Hey man, i tried the glove trick at home and it works pretty well, just wondering how long of a string do i need. Also i shot a small clip of me using the glove trick at home you can see it on my friends site at www.inadamsworld.com
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Thats truely amazing mate... Top drawer improvisation, long may it last
http://psycho.mlblogs.com/
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JIMMY-
Sorry for the delayed reply. I didn't see your comment 'til now. The amount of string is really up to you, and it all depends on where you'll be using the trick. If your local ballpark has 10-foot walls, then you'll want at least 15 feet of string. If you think you might end up using the trick from much higher, attach a piece that's 30 feet long. You can always cut it if you have too much. I checked out the video clip. Good stuff, but it might've been even more impressive if you'd showed the string, or how high the glove was when it started its descent. Just a thought. Meanwhile, if your friend thinks I have "no life," perhaps he should find someone else more interesting to write about.
DAVE-
Thanks. I appreciate it. Just checked out your blog (for the first time) and left you a comment. I'm impressed. The whole thing is really well thought out and technologically savvy. I just wish it weren't all about the Yankees. :-)
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Hey thanks for the tip about the string, also I might be going to a couple games later this month at tht Rogers Centre against the White Soxs and the Devil Rays. I was wondering if you know of anyone on those teams (coaches trainers etc.) that are known for giving out a lot of balls.
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You're welcome.
Unfortunately, I haven't seen the Sox play in quite a while, so I really can't say anything about any of their players EXCEPT Thome, who's always been nice.
As for the Rays, your best bet is Jonny Gomes. Just last week at Yankee Stadium, he must've thrown 10 balls into the right field seats during a half-hour stretch of batting practice. Bullpen coach Bobby Ramos gives away a good amount of balls, too. Not sure about the rest of the guys. I don't make it to American League games too often...
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Hey Zack I went to the Angels vs Jays game on sunday and it was a pretty good game Janssen was on fire and the Jays won. I also got 2 balls first from who I think is the nicest guy on the Jays Scott Downs and the other one from Steve Soliz the bullpen catcher from the Angels. I also would have gotten another one using the glove trick but my string got tangeled up. However Janssen saw me and started to laugh and said he would give me a ball after he was done strectching except he took too long to stretch and eventually security made me move to my seats leaving me at 3 for the day. Not bad for a game without Batting Practise.
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Sorry once again for the VERY delayed reply. This entry is so old that the only time I check it is when I revisit it before linking it to a new entry...if that makes any sense. But anyway, congrats on a successful day. Tangled string AND strict security...double-whammy!
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Hey Zack,
Was just wondering if you ever doing the glove trick and has your glove ever fell out on the field? And do you buy the cheapest tickets at the ball park or where do you sit. On Saturday, I went to a Phillies game against the Marlins and almost caught a ball in bp. We all cramed into the outfield and tried to get balls. I stood on a seat in the first row it was so deep. I did'nt get anything even when I called the players by there first names. So we went to the Phills dugout for autographs were it was cramed with people. We kept asking for balls and autographs, but the kid standing next to me wanted a ball to, so he was asking all the players like me. But since he did'nt know anything about baseball, he would pronouce thier names wrong, or call them by theier last names. Corey Lidle was going to come over but the kid was like, Lidel,Lidel, over here! I did'nt get anything but my brother got I BP ball, which was a real game ball.
I'll show you were we sat at CBP. (3 locations.)
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/phi/ballpark/cbp_seating_diagram.jsp
sec. 148, 216, 205,108.
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Hey.
I've had a couple scares with my glove while lowering it for the trick. One time at Yankee Stadium, way back in the early 90s, a security guard on the field yanked the glove out of my hand and snapped the string. He threatened to confiscate the glove, but ended up returning it after batting practice. Last year at Shea, my string got caught in some tiny gap in the left field wall, and I needed help from one of the players to untangle it. But that's about it.
Usually, I buy the cheapest tickets and then move around, but sometimes, if there's a seat for sale in the PERFECT foul ball spot, I'll spring for it.
Sorry to hear you had such a tough time in Philly...but hey, it makes for a good story.
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i only get about 1 ball a game. any advice to get many many more a game.
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Thanks Zack
I Tried the glove trick for the first time and it worked perfectly
Thanks a lot
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BHAWK-
As I've told other people above, SORRY for the delayed reply. Since this entry is so old, I don't check it as often to see if people have commented. But anyway, the best piece of advice I can give you is to read other old entries about the games I've attended. I talk about EVERYTHING I do to get balls, so that's really the best way to pick up lots of tips. Just make sure you attend batting practice and bring a glove, and remember that you can get lots of balls thrown to you by the players if you position yourself in the right spot and say the right things.
JOHN-
Awesome! I'm really glad to hear it. Did you try it at home or at a game?
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At A Yankees vs Orioles game at Yankee Stadium
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Cool. That's what it was meant for.
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Hey, I think I might try this soon...
But it won't work in the wrigley field bleachers due to the basket...
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zack, i read ur entry on ball snagging. i tried it and guess what, it freakin' worked thank u soooo much! i am going to a giants game in a couple of weeks and i will try the trick there. again, thank u soo much. oh yea, you'll hate me for this but my cousin works for the giants.lol
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swesome, totally awesome
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