A Young Fan Catches a Piece of History
A Chance Encounter with a Legendary Moment
Long encumbered by a mouthful of metal, Zachary was told by his parents Friday that he could leave his fifth-grade class early because he had an orthodontist appointment to get his braces removed. The shaggy-haired 10-year-old figured he’d be out of the chair in time to watch Game 1 of the World Series on TV.
A Surprising Twist
After all, Zachary had worn Dodgers gear to school, drawing from a wardrobe that includes several shirts bearing the name of his favorite player, Freddie Freeman. So when his father picked him up and — surprise! — showed him tickets in the right-field pavilion and headed directly for Chavez Ravine, Zachary was beyond thrilled. They met his mom in Echo Park for pregame tacos at Guisados and soon were in their seats.
A Game to Remember
But Zachary’s elation was nothing compared to what he felt in the bottom of the 10th inning when Freeman’s game-winning grand slam headed directly his way. "When he hit the ball, we knew it was leaving the park, but we had no idea we were going to catch it," Zachary told NBC News. "The ball bounced on the seat in front of us and rolled on the ground a little bit. Then I got it."
A Fan’s Delight
Fans in surrounding seats were happy for Zachary, a die-hard fan who keeps a scorebook at games. And what games: He was in attendance when Fernando Valenzuela’s No. 34 was retired in 2023, and this year he was there on opening day, on Clayton Kershaw bobblehead night, and the Game 1s of the National League division and championship series.
A Moment of Joy
"Everyone wanted to see the ball," he said. Everyone wanted to take a photo with me. I was just mobbed."
Parents with Zachary with Freddie Freeman’s grand slam home run ball
(Courtesy of Nico Ruderman)
A Response from the Community
"Kudos to the Dodgers faithful that no one tried to snatch the ball out of his hands," said Zachary’s father, Nico Ruderman, whose family lives in Venice. "He had tears of joy streaming down his face and a huge smile. He probably had his picture taken with 100 different fans. Everybody was super excited about it. Even Yankees fans high-fived him. It was surreal."
A Lasting Impact
Early the next morning, Zachary accompanied his mom, Anne, on a business trip. He wore a Dodgers T-shirt and a flight attendant asked him if he’d watched the walk-off home run. "Yeah," Zachary replied, "I caught it."
A Glimpse of Fame
The flight attendant jumped on the plane’s public address system and announced Zachary’s great fortune to the other passengers. "I stood up in my seat and everybody was cheering," he said.
Conclusion
For Zachary, the entire episode feels like a dream. But he has one last wish: He’d like to get the ball signed by Freeman.
FAQs
Q: What was Zachary’s reaction to catching the game-winning home run ball?
A: Zachary said he was "beyond thrilled" and "felt like he was on cloud nine."
Q: How did the fans around him react?
A: They were "happy for him and wanted to take a picture with him," and many celebrated his good fortune, even Yankees fans.
Q: What was the reaction of Zachary’s family?
A: His father said they were all "super excited and thrilled" for him and that it was a "surreal" moment.
Q: What is Zachary’s wish now?
A: He wants to get the ball signed by Freddie Freeman and possibly keep it as a memento of his extraordinary experience.
