The fate of the ball that could be soon launched into the record books is adding extra spice to the drama of compelling home run chase. Mark McGwire matched the most hallowed record in baseball on Monday when hoisting his 61st home run of the season to tie the mark set in 1961 by Roger Maris.
The St Louis Cardinals' player hit the home run against the Chicago Cubs, whose Sammy Sosa, 29, is at 58 home runs and is also chasing the record.
The ball McGwire hoisted ended up in the pocket of Mike Davidson, a 28-year-old Cubs fan. Davidson gave it back to McGwire in return for two autographed bats and baseball jerseys, reputedly turning his nose up at the prospect of collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars on the memorabilia market for the baseball.
And the ball that is hit for the 62nd home run could be worth far more. One collector reportedly has offered $1 million for the record-setting ball. But talk of money dismays many baseball lovers, who would prefer to see the ball become a fixture in the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum in Cooperstown, New York.
The Hall of Fame displays the bat and ball from Maris' 61st homer and from Babe Ruth's 60th homer in 1927. But it won't pay for similar items should a record be set this year.
