The first-ever Yankee to have 3000th hits was Captain Clutch, Derek Jeter. It was one of the many milestones the former shortstop achieved throughout his 20-year career wearing the pinstripes. Jeter, in a grand style, hit his 3000th hit with a home run to left field. And the historic hit-ball landed in the hands of a student named Christian Lopez.

The historic ball catcher at the time was a twenty-three-year college graduate who had an outstanding debt of around $150,000. It was his chance to let all of it go away. But he gave it all away only to meet his idol. Notably, the hit ball was important to Jeter, and he or the Yankees management would have given a rather huge amount in exchange for the historic ball. 

What did Lopez get by giving up Jeter’s 3000th-hit ball?

According to the memorabilia experts, if Lopez had negotiated the price of that ball, he could have gotten a much bigger amount. The amount would somewhere be ranging between $300,00 and $1,000,000. But he gave it away for meeting Derek Jeter. 

All Christian asked for was four seats in the president’s box for the remainder of the season (2011), playoffs included, with an estimated value of $50,000. He let the Yankees get off easy.

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As for him, the 3000th hit was just a number, and meeting his idol was more important to him. Also, he did not want to take away what was one of the most important things in Jeter’s career.

Derek Jeter thanked Christian Lopez for returning the ball

The moment Christian Lopez went with his group to meet Jeter, the former shortstop first congratulated Lopez for having a nice catch. Later, after greeting Lopez’s girlfriend and his whole group, the Captain thanked Lopez and appreciated him for giving the ball back.

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Lopez, in return, said that since Jeter worked so hard to achieve that milestone, he was not going to take it away from him. And so, he gave the ball back and left the chance of becoming a millionaire in exchange for meeting the five times World Series winner, Derek Jeter.

Do you think the 300th hit ball catcher was right to return the historic hit ball? Share your comments below.