Patrick Wedderburn on Friday exchanged hugs with family and friends as he held aloft his once-in-a-lifetime haul in section 321 at Citi Field — two foul balls snagged in a three-pitch span during the eighth inning of the New York Mets’ 5-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
However, the 23-year-old from Farmingville on Long Island in New York City did not hesitate when asked what he planned to do with the baseballs.
“I’m gonna give her both of them,” he said as he gestured to his mother, Christa Wedderburn, who was at the park as part of her birthday celebration.
Photo: AP
Patrick Wedderburn, wearing a Pete Alonso jersey, said that he was looking at his phone in the fifth row of section 321 — two levels behind home plate at Citi Field — when the first foul ball off the bat of T.J. Friedl landed in the second row.
“I looked up, I saw it bouncing right there, I dove over, grabbed it,” Patrick Wedderburn said.
Friedl then fouled a pitch off toward the third base side before hitting another Drew Smith offering into section 321.
“Before I could even think about it, the second one was right behind me,” Patrick Wedderburn said. “I grabbed it right on this chair right there.”
“Right there,” Christa Wedderburn said, motioning to the fifth seat in the sixth row.
“Went right over my head,” Patrick Wedderburn said.
Friedl ended up fouling off six two-strike pitches before popping out to third.
Moments later, mother and son posed for a picture with her unexpected birthday gifts.
“Out of all these people here,” said Bob Wedderburn, the father and husband. “What are the odds?”
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