The Red Sox were swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this week, and Boston fans blamed a child and their family for the so-called Yoshida curse.
Boston is winless since Masataka Yoshida’s first career home run, but why is that relevant?
Boy am I glad you asked.
The Red Sox fans who caught Yoshida’s first career home run refused to give up the ball despite several requests from the press relations staff. As is usually the case, the team offered up several autographs and free tickets, but the child who caught the ball didn’t give in. So, the family honored their wishes.
All of this was confirmed by Red Sox general manager Brian O’Halloran via an appearance on The Greg Hill Show.
Red Sox: What happened to Masataka Yoshida’s home run ball?
I wrote about the Red Sox attempts to acquire the Yoshida home run ball on Wednesday, and why it failed:
"“It should be made clear that until we hear from the fans themselves, we don’t really know what happened. Perhaps the Red Sox offer was underwhelming, or Yoshida himself didn’t care all that much about the ball. it’s always a possibility, just as Albert Pujols allowed fans to keep his 700th home run ball. Sometimes, it ought to be a collectible.This doesn’t feel like one of those times, however. Hopefully, Yoshida can lay claim to that baseball sooner rather than later.”"
The Red Sox were swept by Pittsburgh at Fenway, and now head on a road trip to Detroit. Fans are begging the family which caught Yoshida’s home run ball to give it back, thus ending the so-called curse.
Red Sox haven’t won’t a game since this family stole Masataka Yoshida’s first MLB home run ball pic.twitter.com/nGPmpdZSWT
— Name Redacted Podcast (@NameRedactedPod) April 5, 2023
I can get behind the Curse of the Yoshida Ball. Until that family returns Masataka Yoshida’s first big league home run ball, I have no choice but to believe that event has caused all of this. Everything was great up until that happened. Give Masa his ball back.
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) April 5, 2023
The first home run ball⚾️ Masataka Yoshida hit last night was taken home by the family who caught it, they turned down several offers. After all, It never came back to him. @RedSox @BH_MASATAKA34
— Carlos Yamazaki (@masashicarlos) April 4, 2023
The absolute worst part about Yoshida not getting his 1st career home run ball back is that the family that won’t exchange it DIDN’T EVEN CATCH THE BALL. Yoshi said he would like the ball after the game and this family is gonna keep it because…why? Boooooo! pic.twitter.com/TnOZgGTmTL
— Steve Perrault (@Steve_Perrault) April 4, 2023
All my homies hate Lucas
— Daniel Sheahan (@dsheahan22) April 4, 2023
Give Yoshida the ball…. pic.twitter.com/4jiGFUw1v1
The Red Sox are 0-2 since Lucas and his parents refused to give Yoshida back his first home run ball.
— Thomas Carrieri (@Thomas_Carrieri) April 5, 2023
No. That’s what YOU think the parent should do. I’d have $90 million reasons not to care if my child gave Yoshida “his ball” “back”.
— The Big Wazoski (@rhu_red) April 4, 2023
Right thing to do… pic.twitter.com/iTUZ7CKBh2
Sources state the Red Sox were unable to get Yoshida’s ball. Henry called and offered the child what he deemed “a fair deal.” A small soda, half a Fenway Frank, and peanut shells. NESN will not rest. It’s rumored the Sox will interview Mike Milbury for future fan retrievals.
— Petrov McGuire (@McguirePetrov) April 4, 2023
There’s plenty more where that came from.
Sports fans are a superstitious bunch. Once the Sox win, odds are this will all go by the wayside.