It looks like someone crashed the Marlins-Braves game at Fort Bragg on Sunday night, and it’s causing quite the uproar. Self-proclaimed baseball collector Zack Hample tweeted an image of a baseball he obtained during the special event, sparking a significant amount of criticism on Twitter.
Fort Bragg commemorative baseballs? Oh yes! Martin Prado just tossed this to me after the 3rd inning. pic.twitter.com/OQoGJfExbR
— Zack Hample (@zack_hample) July 4, 2016
I just snagged a baseball at my 52nd MLB stadium. So excited to be here at Fort Bragg! pic.twitter.com/xT46d6jhIO
— Zack Hample (@zack_hample) July 3, 2016
Hample, who claims to have been to 51 different MLB stadiums and caught A-Rod’s 3,000th hit, apparently was offering $1,000 to anyone on the U.S. Army post to bring him to the game as a guest. The game was closed to the general public, only to be attended by Department of Defense employees and their family.
.@zack_hample then why did you do this? pic.twitter.com/fX7EHsbOWF
— RT Ohio (@RT_Ohio) July 4, 2016
Once word spread of Hample’s tweet, the criticism came quickly. The 82nd Airborne Division’s Twitter account had some advice for the baseball collector.
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Delete your account. https://t.co/DHYwUuRHbL
— 82nd Airborne Div (@82ndABNDiv) July 4, 2016
And this is the real issue. https://t.co/y5VajGoIyS
— 82nd Airborne Div (@82ndABNDiv) July 4, 2016
Others in the baseball community took aim at Hample, even the notorious Marlins fan who has a penchant for showing up to sporting events in the hopes of being seen.
@zack_hample Zack, that game CLOSED to NON department of Defense Employees and their family. Give any balls u have to kids and leave. NOW.
— Marlins_Man (@Marlins_Man) July 4, 2016
Hample tried to defuse the situation, claiming to have given away almost all the balls he collected at the game.
I got 11 balls today and gave 10 away. As promised, I’ll be writing an $1,100 check to https://t.co/B7S73jb999. Please everyone, calm down.
— Zack Hample (@zack_hample) July 4, 2016
But that attempt appears to have done little for his reputation.
Congrats on the @82ndABNDiv & Fort Bragg for hosting a great MLB game. Sorry @zack_hample showed up. @MLB ban Zack for life for his actions.
— Cavalier Cards (@CavalierCards) July 4, 2016
There is no reason for @MLB not to ban @zack_hample for life. He manipulated people to get into the Fort Bragg game for his own profit. #BAN
— Cavalier Cards (@CavalierCards) July 4, 2016
It’s ridiculous that Zack Hample is allowed into the Fort Bragg game when these were the qualifications. pic.twitter.com/OMtmnFXwrY
— Kyle (@KPagan34) July 4, 2016
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