A young baseball fan named Zachary experienced the thrill of a lifetime when he caught a historic home run ball during Game 1 of the World Series. The 10-year-old secured the grand slam ball that Freddie Freeman sent soaring into the right field, marking the first-ever grand slam in a World Series game and helping the Dodgers clinch a pivotal victory.
Zachary’s family, who asked that his last name remain private, shared details of the unforgettable moment with NBC News. “When Freeman hit the ball, we could tell it was going out of the park, but we never thought we’d be the ones to catch it,” his parents recalled. “The ball bounced off the seat in front of us, rolled on the ground for a second, and then Zachary grabbed it.”
Nico, Zachary’s father, described the intense emotions of the moment. “He was just crying, with tears streaming down his face and a huge smile. They were tears of joy,” he said.
Even fans of the Yankees, who were there to cheer on their own team, shared in the excitement. “Everyone around us, even Yankees fans, were thrilled by what had happened. It was one of those rare, incredible baseball moments,” Nico added.
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Since catching the home run ball, Zachary has been the center of attention. “Fans were coming up, wanting pictures with me and asking to see the ball. I was just mobbed,” he told NBC News. The moment was surreal for the young fan, who found himself at the heart of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The World Series continues as the Dodgers and Yankees face off again in Game 3 on October 28, with the series moving to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
The Dodgers currently lead the series 2-0, but for Zachary, Game 1 will forever be remembered as the night he became part of World Series history.
