Jackson Holliday crushed a no-doubt grand slam onto Eutaw Street for his first big-league home run on Wednesday afternoon, and a stroke of good timing by Grant’s cousin Tim and his son Wyatt led to a memorable souvenir.
It didn’t start off like they were about to have an unforgettable day. The two decided to go to the game at the last minute, but wound up leaving their seats after Wyatt got a nosebleed. Near Eutaw Street, the two searched for some ice, and decided to hang out near Eutaw Street while Holliday was stepping up to the plate. Sure enough, the star prospect cranked his first career homer, and Tim wound up being at the “right place at the right time.”
“I see the crowd of people start running back towards me…I find the ball and just track it,” Tim said on Grant and Danny. “Absolute chaos. People were on top of me, but luckily, security came over pretty quick and said ‘He’s got it.’”
The ball was a special one, being Holliday’s first home run, so it was no surprise that Tim was approached within minutes after coming away with the home run ball. Tim gave the ball back to Holliday, the group took a photo together, and as a token of Holliday and the Orioles’ appreciation, they were given a pack of Orioles cards, including a Holliday rookie card (which Holliday signed), tickets to a future game for Wyatt’s birthday, where they will be able to go onto the field for batting practice so Wyatt can meet his favorite player, Adley Rutchsman.
They also got a signed bat from Holliday, as well as tickets to another game next season. But regardless of the return, Tim was never going to hesitate to give the ball back to the O’s rookie.
“That was his ball, man,” Tim said. “That ball belongs to him.”