2007-06-26 14:59:18 · 6 answers · asked by stephen s 1 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Next homerun will be number 500 and they want to authenticate the ball.
2007-06-26 15:03:37 · answer #1 · answered by DANNY A 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Authenticity of the milestone 500th homer, when he hits it. MLB started doing this a while ago -- 1996 at least, I remember this ongoing for Murray's 500th -- in order that the balls involved in historic hits -- milestones, record-breakers -- could be authenticated. Typically there is a serial number encrypted in an invisible ink, viewable under ultraviolet light.
This mostly only applies to home runs, where the ball leaves the playing field, but since a home run could happen at any time -- e.g., Boggs' 3000th hit was a home run (his last one) -- MLB has enacted this standing policy for impending historic events.
2007-06-26 15:05:32 · answer #2 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Because the next home run he hits will be his 500th, they are marking the ball so it can be recovered, and for authenticity purposes.
2007-06-26 15:35:06 · answer #3 · answered by frenchy62 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably because his next home run will be his 500th, which is quite a career milestone seeing as how only like 20 people EVER have hit that many
2007-06-26 15:03:58 · answer #4 · answered by nayrkcalb13 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
he's allergic to the material used in a regular baseball
2007-06-26 15:01:57 · answer #5 · answered by I am watching your every move. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what are you talking about ?
2007-06-26 15:02:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋