San Francisco, December 1, 2001 -- Barry Bonds' record-setting 73rd home run ball has been locked in a safe-deposit box under the order of Superior Court Judge, David Garcia.

The baseball, whose estimated worth may be more than $1 million, is the object of a dispute between two men who each claim to be its rightful owner, according to a report by Reuters. The judge ruled that the ball be kept in the safe-deposit box until its true owner is determined.

The parties involved are Patrick Hayashi, who on October 7, left the stadium with the prized possession in hand, and Alex Popov, who maintains that he caught Bonds' record blast, only to lose it in the ensuing fracas. Popov has filed suit against Hayashi, claiming he was the victim of a  mugging.

As part of the court order, the judge directed Popov to put up $100,000 bond, for the purpose of offsetting any decrease in the ball's value should he lose in court.

Initially, a temporary restraining order was placed on the ball on October 29. It was then extended, while Garcia's latest ruling affirms that extension.

Hayashi's first intent was to sell the ball, while Popov claimed his own intent was to keep it. The ball's estimated worth of more than $1 million, is considerably less than the $3 million paid for Mark Mc Gwire's record-breaking 70th home run three years ago.


Source : Reuters, Nov. 28, 2001.


David Burkey
E-mail : daveywriter@hotmail.com