Fan gives back Jeter's 3,000 hit ball

By C. Trent Rosecrans

Christian Lopez As Derek Jeter moved toward 3,000 hits, there were estimates that in the case of a home run for his milestone hit, the ball could be worth as much as $250,000.

Christian Lopez, 23, won't be getting cash when he turned in the ball without asking for anything in return. However, he's not going home empty handed. Lopez will get four suite tickets for every game for the rest of the season, signed bats and balls and front-row seats for tomorrow's game, YES Network reported on their telecast of the game.

"It's amazing," Lopez told the New York Daily News. "I just picked it up off the floor."

Lopez's girlfriend, Tara Johnson, bought the tickets for Lopez for his birthday. Johnson and Lopez were joined by Lopez's father for the game.

When Lopez was interviewed on the Yankee scoreboard during the game, he said he didn't want anything in return other than to meet Jeter.

"There's nothing I really want," Lopez said. "I got to see history in the making."

Watch Jeter's 3,000th hit here.

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hotmeuly Since: Dec 2, 2011	Posted on: December 22, 2011 12:16 am This comment has been removed. Post Deleted by Administrator
klghjrtyu Since: Dec 2, 2011	Posted on: December 5, 2011 7:38 am Fan gives back Jeter's 3,000 hit ball Do not ever regarded as that running without shoes are this easy naturally. I had developed cheap 49ers jerseys spent an incredible make available having to do with my own time in search of folks to make clear the item concern apparently and you're simply man or woman that most previously does in which. Many thanks to yourself! [ Reply to Comment ]
jimbonasium Since: Jan 11, 2007	Posted on: July 10, 2011 5:02 pm Fan gives back Jeter's 3,000 hit ball This 'class act' equals stupidity in my book. [ Reply to Comment ]
Natelville Since: Aug 20, 2006	Posted on: July 10, 2011 9:34 am Fan gives back Jeter's 3,000 hit ball I would have kept the ball and sold it, and I'm an honest guy who has returned money to its rightful owner. But the ball was Lopez's and he had every right to sell it to the highest bidder. This money could pay off student loans, buy a house, be put up for his future kid's education, given to charity, or many other things that could change his and his families lives. Instead it goes into Derek Jeter's trophy case. Jeter seems like a good guy but he did just squeeze millions out of the Yankees after some subpar seasons and on another website I saw Jeter shaking Lopez hand in a 'DJ3K' T-shirt, that Jeter is obviously marketing to capitalizing on his 3000 hits. This along with the NFL and NBA lockouts show that the players and owners are about money so the fan should have been too. I personally would have offered it to Jeter first, for fair market value (I'm sure DJ3K knows what that is) but if he said no it would go to auction. Also if I were Jeter I would write Lopez a check for something. [ Reply to Comment ]
MrDov Since: Feb 20, 2011	Posted on: July 9, 2011 11:52 pm Fan gives back Jeter's 3,000 hit ball I'll admit I'm not the biggest fan of the Yankees or related things, but that was on classy move by the fan. Props to him. [ Reply to Comment ]
JERSEYYANK Since: Jul 2, 2009	Posted on: July 9, 2011 8:40 pm Fan gives back Jeter's 3,000 hit ball Mr Lopez I give you big props for returning the ball and not asking for any compensation, you sir are a Real Yankee Fan. Derek had the chance to do the right thing, after he had a subpar year and the Yankees had to walk in and negotiate a new contract. Derek squeezed about 14.7million out of the Yankees after a subpar year. You sir should have made Derek give back about $250.000 of those dollars, the very first Yankee to have 3000 hits and all of them with the Yankees and only the second to hit a homerun on his 3000th hit. Yes the Yankees set you up pretty nice for the rest of the year but with $250.000 you could have bought all of that and still had plenty left over to go on vacation. Baseball management giveth and every now and then when given the chance the fans who feed baseball management should take some of it back. I do applaud you on your great gesture, and one day I hope to have one of those moments, but it will cost whoever ball I catch some of the gratuity that I give to this great game of ours. [ Reply to Comment ]
NYYankees38 Since: Jul 22, 2009	Posted on: July 9, 2011 7:24 pm Fan gives back Jeter's 3,000 hit ball Class acts all around with this one! I like how you guys are calling him an idiot for giving the ball back. Christian is as classy as all the Yankees' fans out there! He's also smart....he knew no matter what he would get something good out of this. $250k? It MIGHT be worth that....saying it and someone actually paying that much for it are 2 completely different things. Anything he gets signed from Jeter will surely have something written on it in regards to his 3000th hit and will be worth a lot....but this guy won't sell it....it's value is having it and showing it off! [ Reply to Comment ]
AvengersGirl Since: Sep 27, 2006	Posted on: July 9, 2011 7:14 pm Fan gives back Jeter's 3,000 hit ball >>>This guy is stupid for giveing the ball away for free Ya don't think the guy could already be wealthy? Only 23...well, he might be a computer entrepreneur, or his dad might be wealthy. Or he might just be a stand up guy who is quite happy with his income, whatever it is, and knew that if all of a sudden he had $250K, the vultures would start gathering begging for money. [ Reply to Comment ]
GoChisox3 Since: Jul 9, 2011	Posted on: July 9, 2011 7:01 pm Fan gives back Jeter's 3,000 hit ball WOW...I don't know if I could have just handed the ball over like that. $250k is a lot of money. This guy is a class act !!!! I'm hope nothing but good will come out of this for him. I think the Yankees or Jeter should really take care of this guy !!! [ Reply to Comment ]
nukeembaby Since: Jan 21, 2007	Posted on: July 9, 2011 6:54 pm Fan gives back Jeter's 3,000 hit ball Not a Yankee fan at all, but it was worth it getting up at 5 AM Monday morning and watching history in the making on AFN. Class act all around by the Yankees and by Christian Lopez. He epitomizes what a true baseball fan should be and also congrats to "Jeets" on his 3,000 hit. [ Reply to Comment ]

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