Back in 2005, I wrote an article about what happened with the ball from the end of the 2004 World Series.
As you Red Sox fans now, Doug Mientkiewicz ended up in possession of the ball and never reliquinshed it after the game to the Red Sox. The Sox ownership has made a big stink as to who is the rightful owner of the ball. The Red Sox contend they are the rightful owners of the ball because Mientkiewicz at the time was an employee.
I think this whole thing is a crock. First off, whether or not he is the rightful owner of the ball doesnt even matter; Red Sox Nation deserves to have the ball. Mientkiewicz has said previously that he does not want to profit from the sale of the ball. When he agreed to “lend” the ball to the Red Sox for a year, he wanted to make sure the fans could see the ball. Also to be noted, all proceeds from anything the ball does goes to the Red Sox Foundation. So if your going to make that agreement with the Red Sox, why not just give them the ball. Dude, you played with the Sox for 4 months. Do you even know the significance of the ball? Every member of Red Sox Nation, except those over age 86 in 2004, have waited an entire lifetime to see the Red Sox win a World Series.
Fast forward to 2007. After Jonathan Papelbon struck out Seth Smith to win the 2007 World Series, Jason Varitek placed the ball in his back pocket before heading out to the mound to the waiting arms of the Red Sox closer. If you look at the above picture, you can clearly see the ball in his right pocket.
After the game, Varitek had this to say about the ball:
“I’ll give it back to the team,” Varitek said at Coors Field. “Maybe we won’t have a controversy this time.”
Well now no one knows where the ball is. Varitek said he gave it to Papelbon. Papelbon’s agent says Paps doesn’t have the ball. Normally after Papelbon closes out a game, if possible, Varitek always gives him the ball. So you would assume the same thing was true this time.
But who knows. All we know right now that the ball is missing. The Red Sox will look to get to the bottom of this in their upcoming organizational meetings.
