CHICAGO -- Simultaneously calling it an “honor” and not understanding what the big deal is, Chicago Cubs rookie Kyle Schwarber is getting a kick out of all the attention his home run ball from Game 4 of the division series against the St. Louis Cardinals is getting.
“It’s crazy,” Schwarber said before a Thursday workout at Wrigley Field. “I just look at it as it’s a home run. People are taking it to the next step.”
According to ESPN Stats and Information, the ball traveled 438 feet, landing on top of the new video scoreboard beyond the right-field wall. At first, no one knew where the ball landed, but eventually it was found -- by television helicopters and other means. The Cubs encased the ball and are leaving it up there for at least the duration of the playoffs.
“It’s a great honor,” Schwarber said. “Wrigley Field has such great history. For it to stay up there, for however long, it’ll be cool.”
Schwarber’s blast in the seventh inning of the deciding game of the series was only an insurance run as Anthony Rizzo’s home run in the sixth broke a 4-4 tie. But the excitement of the day as well as the massive power display -- it was the first ball to land on the new video scoreboard -- gave it special meaning.
Manager Joe Maddon called whoever came up with the idea to encase the ball in Plexiglass and leave it up there “pure genius.”
“The way tradition and lore are dealt with around here, that could withstand the test of time,” Maddon said. “You have to keep that scoreboard intact now.”
