HOUSTON -- You were one of millions who watched Game 6 of the World Series at Home. Jorge Soler's home run ball for the Atlanta Braves was lost over the Minute Maid Park railway tracks late into the night.
Manuel Ramos also saw it while watching the game from Richard's apartment balcony. He had also seen it just a few seconds before. This apartment is located across the street from Minute Maid Park. The apartment also has a view of the stadium when it is open, as Tuesday was.
Manuel and his brother saw the ball leave the yard so they both looked down. They saw it on the street, just outside the 500 Crawford brick building.
Soler's three run shot, which traveled approximately 446 feet from home plate to land, landed on an awning outside of the park, and then rolled to the right. The stadium was enclosed by fencing that separated the area from the surrounding neighborhood. It ended up on the balcony because of this. Richard said that the animal was simply lying on the sidewalk.
Shawnda, Richard's wife and Manuel walked down the street in a matter of minutes. Manuel estimated that it took them eight minutes to reach the area -- then they realized that the fenced off area was not accessible from their location.
Shawnda stated, "I was speaking to security.
Manuel was able to use that conversation as his defining moment. He jumped at the chance to speak with the security guards. Literally. Shawnda stated, "I guess they were distracted." "I didn’t do it intentionally. "I didn't know he was coming down [with] me."
Manuel ran up to the viewing party, jumped over the fence and grabbed the ball. They said that it was then that security started looking for the ball -- but to no avail.
Manuel Ramos displays Jorge Soler's World Series Game 6 Home Run Ball after locating the baseball outside Houston's Minute Maid Park. Jesse Rogers/ESPN
The Astros are a lifelong fan, so the group upstairs was disappointed by the home run but happy to have a game-winning homerun ball.
Richard stated, "This is the first time I've seen one leave the park." "The roof is almost always open. If the Braves win, we want to torch it.
Richard will not be following through on his win with the Braves, despite the potential value of his souvenir.
"How about $1,000,000?" Manuel was only half-joking. Manuel said, only half-joking. It's something I will hold onto."
According to the brothers, the only souvenirs they have are a few seats from the Astrodome. The ball was not sentimental because it helped the Braves win the World Series over the Astros.
Soler can have the baseball.
Manuel stated, "No one has reached me yet."
