The happenstance of life

Returning Derek Jeter’s ball 'was the right thing to do’ By Nancy Kriz HIGHLAND MILLS - Crazy, crazy, crazy. Ask Highland Mills resident Christian Lopez how this past whirlwind week has been for him, and that’s the word he repeatedly uses. What a total understatement that is, too. The 23-year-old Lopez’s life has evolved from being a cell phone salesperson for Verizon Wireless in Middletown to now having a permanent place in the history of the New York Yankees. It’s the happenstance of life any Yankee fan would dream about. By now it seems the entire New York metropolitan population - and perhaps beyond - recognizes Lopez’s face. As he told a passerby while having an extended conversation with The Photo News on Monday: “Yes, I’m the guy who caught Jeter’s ball.” And of course, those same people know his story, including what Lopez stresses is its important moral: Do the right thing. A birthday gift The tickets to last Saturday’s Yankees game were a birthday gift from girlfriend Tara Johnson, who lives in upstate Watertown. Lopez, Johnson and Lopez’s father Raul were among those sitting in the first row of Section 236 in the left field bleacher seats, part of a sold-out crowd who knew that might be the day shortstop Derek Jeter would get his 3,000th career hit, making him the very first Yankee and only the 28th person in baseball history to reach such a revered number. The crowd’s anticipation grew after Jeter’s single - pulling him to 2,999 hits - happened in the bottom of the first inning. Jeter was back at the plate in the bottom of the third. A 3-2 count. A low breaking curve ball. The crack of the bat. The frenzied roar of more than 48,000 people. A solo home run headed in the direction of where Lopez was sitting. And as fate would have it, that ball rolled onto the grass ledge right in front of him. Lopez dove for it. This storied ball was now his. 'Nothing more nothing less’ But what makes Lopez’s ball capture so remarkable is what he did afterward. Unlike fans seeking financial gain for their good fortune, Lopez wanted none of that. Lopez simply returned the ball to Jeter, who he felt was its rightful owner. “Any real fan put in my position would have done the same thing,” Lopez said on Monday. “It’s the least I can do, to give it to him. Jeter earned it. The right thing to do was to give back the ball, nothing more, nothing less.” In return, the Yankee organization thanked him for his kindness and commendable decision with four Champion Suites luxury box seats for the rest of the season - and beyond if the Yankees go into post-season play - and other souvenirs like autographed balls and bats. Lopez also met Jeter, and had the opportunity to present the ball to him personally. “Meeting Jeter was real cool,” he said. “He was very gracious. It’s still so crazy. I was standing and sitting next to Derek Jeter.” There were more moments like that as well as coveted photo opportunities for this Yankee fan, as Lopez also met Reggie Jackson, Joe Torre, among other Yankee players and officials and celebrities like rapper Jay-Z. A comment from 12-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera stood out in Lopez’s mind. “He told me what I did was a very stand-up thing to do,” said Lopez. “He said that showed my character and that the Yankee organization was very appreciative. That was very nice. He was very genuine; everyone was very, very genuine.” The IRS As of Tuesday, published reports addressed the possible IRS implications to Lopez because of the value of those gifts. The New York Times reported the 32 remaining home games - after Sunday - have a combined face value of $44,800 to $73,600, according to the team’s Web site. The paper said $14,000 was a conservative estimate of possible taxes due. But Lopez remained undeterred, saying in published reports he would look for help from family and friends if it’s determined he’d actually have a tax liability. And he’s now getting help too. Miller High Life issued a statement Wednesday saying that the company would cover Lopez’s tax bill, according to www.espn.go.com. Both Modell Sporting Goods and Steiner Sports guaranteed Lopez at least $25,000 each toward his outstanding student loans of $150,000. Additionally, the Web site reported, Steiner has set up an auction of memorabilia that eventually will include baseballs signed by both Lopez and Jeter. Modell is also pledging five percent from the sale of Yankees-related merchandise at the Modell’s chain during what will be called “Christian Lopez Week.” But wait, there’s more Topps, the baseball card company, said on Wednesday evening it will produce a trading card featuring Christian Lopez to be included in sets later this year. Also on Wednesday, Lopez was also given a 2009 Yankees World Series ring from Mitchell Modell, CEO of Modell’s Sporting Goods, who got the ring because Modell’s sponsors the Yankees. “Our generation is sometimes thought of as stubborn, selfish, greedy,” he said on Monday afternoon. “Sometimes people say for our generation, it’s all about the money. It’s not at all about that.” Lopez’s new-found fame and notoriety still continues. He’s been fielding calls from media outlets nationwide in addition to the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Daily News, The New York Post, ESPN, Tjhe Today Show, New York City television stations, The YES Network, Fox News, and a host of Web sites and radio stations in addition to regional and local news outlets. “I need a publicist,” he said. “But this experience, millions of people would want to be in my shoes. I’m the lucky fan who got to do this.” A sense of where you are Lopez said he was proud to have a place in Yankee history. “You can’t put a price on it,” Lopez said. “ I’m just trying to have the greatest time right now. The gratitude shown to me has been tremendous. People are walking up to me and shaking my hand, asking me for my autograph. I know some people criticized me for not selling, but that’s not what it was about. It’s not about the money; it’s about the memories.” Lopez, a graduate of Cornwall High School and St. Lawrence University, kept returning to the notion of the importance of doing the right thing. “The teachable moment is that even under extreme pressure, if in your mind, you know what the right thing to do is, then do it. I feel that’s what it’s all about. I’m a 23-year-old man. I know the difference between right and wrong. “Nothing’s really changed,” said Lopez. “I’m still the same person. I enjoy going to baseball games. I like to argue baseball with Red Sox fans. You’ll never know what you’ll do if you’re put in that position, but if you are, you look down into your soul and you’ll know what the right thing to do is. I hope kids will follow that.”

“I am so incredibly proud of what Christian has done. As many of our closest friends are expressing, now the rest of the world can see what an amazing guy he is.” Tara Johnson, girlfriend of Christian Lopez, talking about her feelings of pride regarding his decision to quickly return Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit ball to him on Saturday

By the numbers:
$0: For Derek Jeter’s 3,000th career hit ball, returned to Jeter on July 9, the same day Jeter made the hit, by Highland Mills resident Christian Lopez, who felt it was simply important to return the ball to the person who should have it.
$220,100: Paid on eBay for Barry Bond’s 715th home run ball in 2006.
Almost $3 million: Paid for Mark McGwire’s record-breaking 70th home run in 1998.