Nice story but still nowhere near what he could have got. The more I think about it the more I wish he did sell it. The way teams and players overcharge for tickets, autographs and everything else. a fan had the hammer and he wasted it but good for him, he's gotten some good publicity for being a good guy and I appreciate that but for the rest of us fans I wish he sold it to the highest bidder.
The thing is, he did what was right for himself. I don't understand knocking people for doing something good for others when it doesn't affect anyone negatively. Jeter gets to keep a great piece of history. The kid has a memory for life, got to hand Jeter the ball, has Legends Suite tickets throughout the rest of the year (he can make up the money in free beer from buddies he brings to games), and now he's getting some of his student loans paid off, has great publicity (a pretty stand-up guy who lacks greed should do well in future job interviews with a nice degree), and he has a Championship Ring.
I'm not knocking him, he made his choice and it was up to him but I guarantee you some day he will regret it. Getting free beer isn't going to pay for his student loans, had he sold it he could have paid those loans off, still met Jeter, still have great memories and have plenty of money left over for a nice start to his post college life. His stroy was the ball wasn't his, he didn't earn it. if that is his philosophy why would he accept that ring? He didn't earn it. He should have sold it but I'm not knocking him, he made the decision and he'll have to live w/ it.
