Lieutenant catches Griffey's 564th home-run ball

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Gordinier
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (ACCNS) --  A base Airman caught Ken Griffey Jr.'s 564th home-run ball April 24 during a baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

2nd Lt. Christopher Franks, 20th Operations Support Squadron, and his friend, 2nd Lt. Mike McCants, 55th Fighter Squadron, were passing through St. Louis on their way back to Shaw from an initial flight screening in Pueblo, Colo.

The pair decided to catch a game at Busch Stadium while they were in St. Louis, said Lieutenant Franks. They sat three rows back in the right field stands.

Before the game the lieutenants joked about catching a ball.

"I said, 'Wouldn't it be funny if we caught a home-run ball?' because we were sitting in the perfect spot,'" Lieutenant McCants said.

"Yeah, that would be great, especially if it came from Ken Griffey Jr.," Lieutenant Franks replied.

The lieutenants got their wish.

At the top of the fifth inning with a runner on first, Ken Griffey Jr. stepped up to the plate and smashed a ball deep towards right field on the first pitch.

"Wow, that's got a chance," Lieutenant McCants said. "I think it's going to get here."

"I jumped up and leaned back and caught the ball with one hand," Lieutenant Franks said. "I thought it was pretty cool at the time, but I had no idea how significant the ball was."

An usher then told the Airmen that Mr. Griffey would like the ball because it was his 564th home run and it broke a tie with baseball great Reggie Jackson for 10th place on the career list.

"I thought about it for a minute," Lieutenant Franks said. "I thought about being in his shoes. I thought I would want the ball back if it were me. I told the usher that I would give the ball back, but I would like to meet Mr. Griffey."

After the game was over, the two Airmen met Mr. Griffey.

Lieutenant Franks said he was "a really nice guy" and that he had a blast meeting the baseball star.

"He thought it was really cool that we were working to become pilots because he is working to become one as well," Lieutenant Franks said.

After talking for a while and snapping lots of pictures, Mr. Griffey signed a baseball bats and ball for the Airmen.

After catching the ball, a sports auctioneer sitting nearby said Lieutenant Franks could probably sell the ball for more than $20,000.

"I didn't feel like being greedy," the lieutenant said. "I just wanted to meet Ken Griffey Jr. for a great experience, a treasured memory and to have a great story to tell."