Long burdened by a bite of metal, Zachary was told by his parents on Friday that he could leave his fifth grade class early because he had an appointment with the orthodontist to have his braces removed. The shaggy-haired 10-year-old thought he would get up from his chair in time to watch the first game of the World Series on television.
After all, Zachary had worn Dodgers gear to school, drawing on a wardrobe that included several shirts bearing his favorite player’s name, Freddie Freeman.
So when his father came to pick him up and…surprise! — showed him the tickets in the right field pavilion and headed straight to Chavez Ravine, Zachary was beyond thrilled. They met his mother in Echo Park for pre-game tacos at Guisados and soon they were in their place.
But Zachary’s elation was nothing compared to what he felt late in the 10th inning when Freeman’s winning grand slam headed straight towards him.
“When he hit the ball, we knew it was leaving the park, but we didn’t know we were going to catch it.” Zechariah told NBC News. “The ball bounced off the seat in front of us and rolled a little on the floor. Then I caught it.”
Learn more: Plaschke: In such an improbable year, Freddie Freeman becomes Kirk Gibson
Fans in the surrounding seats were happy for Zachary, a die-hard fan who keeps a scorebook at games. And what games: he was present when Fernando Valenzuela’s No. 34 has been retired in 2023, and this year he was there opening dayon Clayton Kershaw bobblehead night and the first games of the National League Division and Championship Series.
“Everyone wanted to see the ball,” he said. Everyone wanted to take a photo with me. I was just mobbed.”
Kudos to the Dodgers faithful that no one tried to knock the ball out of his hands.
“He had tears of joy streaming down his face and a huge smile,” said Zachary’s father, Nico Ruderman, whose family lives in Venice. “He probably had his picture taken with 100 different fans. Everyone was super excited. Even the Yankees fans high-fived him. It was surreal.”
Learn more: Freddie Freeman makes history with grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series
Early the next morning, Zachary accompanied his mother, Anne, on a business trip. He was wearing a Dodgers T-shirt and a flight attendant asked him if he watched the home run.
“Yeah,” Zachary replied, “I caught it.”
The flight attendant jumped on the plane’s public address system and announced Zachary’s great fortune to the other passengers. “I stood up in my seat and everyone was clapping,” he said.
Needless to say, the whole episode seems like a dream, but Zachary has one last wish: he’d like the ball to be signed by Freeman.
Learn more: Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run sells for a record $4.4 million. Who receives the money?
And, ultimately, no one could blame him for at least considering selling it. The ball, Freeman’s teammate, Shohei Ohtaniknocks against the seats to make him the first player in history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season sold at auction for $4.4 million.
This would more than cover the orthodontic bill.
This story was originally published in Los Angeles Times.
