Fan returns World Series grand slam ball to Paul Konerko, is rewarded
By Ed Carroll
Longtime Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko is retiring after the season, and for many White Sox fans the best memories of Konerko’s career will be with the 2005 World Series championship team.
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The fan who caught a grand slam ball hit by Konerko in Game 2 of that series has held onto the ball, until the team asked for him to give it back to Konerko on Saturday.
The fan, Chris Claeys, agreed, but was rewarded with more than the White Sox bargained for before the end of the night.
Saturday marked “Paul Konerko Day” at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, and Claeys happily agreed to give the grand slam ball back to the first baseman who hit it in exchange for the chance to meet Konerko, a signed picture, and tickets for a suite for yesterday’s game.
Claeys said being at the game and able to meet Konerko was all he really wanted, but the White Sox fan’s good karma for never selling the ball was rewarded further just three innings later.
Claeys caught a foul ball in the bottom of the third inning hit by — who else — Paul Konerko.
So, not too bad of a deal for Claeys.
Meet Paul Konerko before he retires from MLB, return a treasured moment in White Sox history to someone who will assuredly appreciate it, take in a game in a suite, and get a signed picture and replacement foul ball.
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