A lot has happened in the memorabilia world since I last posted a blog. On Monday, I found out that Matt Murphy, the guy who caught Barry Bonds’ No. 756 home run ball, had listed the jersey and cap he was wearing at the game on eBay.

I figured this was pretty interesting so I gave him a call.

Matt answered and we chatted for about 15 minutes.

Keep in mind, this was on Monday Aug. 20.

Murphy told me all about the night that he caught the milestone ball. He was fresh off vacation from Australia, and rather tired.

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

 “I’m in LA right now and staying here for today. I’m jet lagged like crazy.”

On that milestone night:
“It happened so quickly and I just had it. I was just holding on thinking just don’t let go. You know, it all just kind of clicked. It didn’t really hit me until later that night when I was finally left alone with that ball.”

What Giants security told him:
“In the bank. They said ‘put that damn thing in your pocket. Hold on to that and take it to the bank and then go on your vacation, kid.’”

Did he think he would have to pay taxes to keep the ball?
 “I think it’s not a myth, I think it’s a fact that I have to pay for something that I already own and it’s kind of ridiculous. I cannot pay $200,000 to $300,000 to keep a baseball. I could pay $20,000 to $50,000 to keep it.”

Has his life changed?
“Nothing’s changed so far, just my phone bill.”

On Aug. 21 Murphy pulled the items (the jersey and cap) he had listed on eBay and announced his ball would be sold in SCP/Sotheby’s auction. As of the day I talked to him, on Aug. 20, he was still undecided:
“It’s more about how much it’s going to cost me to keep it and it’s about who is actually going to buy it. If it’s the Hall of Fame trying to buy it, I’m gonna sell it. Joe-whoever from Kansas, then I don’t know.”

I really think Murphy wanted to keep the ball. But, from what people were telling him, he thought he would have to pay that crazy amount in taxes to the IRS to keep it. I think that is absolutely horrible.
What kind of a world do we live in when you actually have a guy who doesn’t want to cash in on a home run ball for once and he can’t keep it as a souvenir, and as a result is forced to sell it?


In other major hobby news, Upper Deck dropped its offer to buy Topps. I know that a lot of card dealers are happy with this because it keeps the competition alive and the competition between Upper Deck, Topps, Donruss etc., should be good for all collectors of sports cards.


Also,  The National Card Convention filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week. CLICK HERE FOR STORY That said, the 2008 National is still slated for Chicago and everything seems to still be going as planned.

“Anyone who selected a booth for next year’s show at the lottery in Cleveland will receive their contracts and invoices next month,” said Etta Hersh, president of the NSCC.