Hollister resident Timothy Murphy’s lawsuit claiming Barry
Bonds’ historic 700th home run ball was unjustly stolen from him
has thrust the local man into the media limelight, with phone calls
coming in from Jay Leno, Good Morning America and scores of
reporters.
Hollister – Hollister resident Timothy Murphy’s lawsuit claiming Barry Bonds’ historic 700th home run ball was unjustly stolen from him has thrust the local man into the media limelight, with phone calls coming in from Jay Leno, Good Morning America and scores of reporters.
A court hearing scheduled in San Francisco Wednesday was continued until Friday after Steve Williams, a Pacifica man who came up with the ball after a melee in the stands of SBC Park, promised a judge he would not sell the piece of sports history until the squabble was settled. Analysts said the ball is losing value as it remains ensnared in a legal limbo – especially as Bonds approaches Ruth’s home run mark – but could be worth more than $100,000.
Meanwhile, Murphy has been dodging the press and his wife Bobbi is screening phone calls.
“We can’t make any comments right now,” she said. “I know the other guy has been talking, but we’re not doing it that way. We’re letting his attorneys handle that. It’s been really intense. We’ve gotten hundreds of calls since this began.”
When approached by the Hollister Free Lance while watering the lawn at his Hollister home, Murphy, 40, declined to comment. He referred all comments to his San Jose attorney Joseph Scanlan, Jr., who didn’t return phone calls from the Free Lance.
Murphy filed a lawsuit Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Court stating that he is the rightful owner of the ball and that it was stolen from him during the chaos in the left field bleachers when Bonds hit the historic shot on Sept. 17. In the suit, Murphy said the ball struck him in the chin then dropped to the seat in from of him. He claims in the suit that he had possession of the ball after he sat on it and cradled it with his leg.
The suit claims that 50 fans and Williams wrestled for control of the ball for 60 seconds. During that time, Murphy claims Williams grabbed his crotch and eventually stole the ball away. Although Williams was in section BL 139, No. 2, the suit contends he shouldn’t have been able to claim the ball because his ticket was for standing room only.
“We are confident that once evidence is presented in court in the form of both witnesses and videotape, it will be clear that Mr. Murphy had lawful possession of the ball and is the rightful owner,” Murphy’s attorney, Joseph Scanlan Jr., told the Associated Press.
Williams’ attorney, Daniel Horowitz, said the suit was “frivolous” and an attempt “to extract money even when it is not justified.”
San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Ronald Quidachay granted a temporary injunction until Friday on yesterday’s hearing to give lawyers on both sides time to make their cases, including obtaining video that shows who came away with the ball.
If the judge ultimately declines to block the ball from being auctioned, Williams likely would sell it immediately and the case would be over.
But before the hearing, the case took a twist.
Minutes before the hearing began, another man, Alex Patino, said that he was the rightful owner of the ball and is also planning on suing Williams.
“I just rolled on it and trapped it,” he said, adding that Murphy “muffed” the catch.
His attorney, Nikita Scope, said Patino is the rightful owner because Williams snatched it from him – the same claim Murphy is making.
“He sat on it and had possession,” Scope said of Patino.
Bonds became the first new member of the 700-homer club in 31 years, joining Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. He now has 703 career home runs and is closing in on Ruth (714) and Aaron (755).
It is not the first time fans headed to court to determine the fate of a Bonds’ home run ball. In October 2001, Bonds’ record-setting 73rd homer of the season sparked litigation that ended when a judge ordered both men to split the $450,000 the ball.
Nathan Mixter is the Sports Editor for the Free Lance. Reach him at 637-5566, ext. 334.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
