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Glove Used by Jeffrey Maier to Catch Derek Jeter's Home Run Ball Sold at Auction

12-year-olds glove sells for big money

September 26, 2022

Heritage Auctions

1996 was a memorable year. The Nintendo64 was released, Macarena dominated the airwaves, and the New York Yankees recaptured the title after a 12-year drought. But before the Yankees clinched their 23rd championship, Jeffrey Maier, a 12-year-old, shifted the momentum in the Yankees' favor late in game 1 of the ALCS.

On October 9th, with the Yankees down a run in the bottom of the 8th inning and with the bases empty, Derek Jeter hits a deep shot to right field but falls short of clearing the fence. Before Oriole's outfielder Tony Tarasco could catch it, Maier reaches over the wall and pulls the ball into the stands. Without replay being an option at the time, it was ruled a home run. The Yankees would eventually win the game on a homer by Bernie Williams in extra innings. The glove the Maier used to change the course of the game sold at Heritage Auctions for $15,000!

In August of that year, while Macarena swept the nation, 50,000 fans at Yankee Stadium helped set a record for most people to do the Macarena simultaneously. Two months later, it was Jeffrey Maier who had Yankee fans dancing in the aisles. Maier received national attention. Soon after the play, he did an interview with Jim Gray from NBC in front of fans. He was also a guest on several talk shows. In the following months and years, he would receive offers for travel, to be in commercials for a major jeans distributor, and to make a small appearance in a Hollywood film. He even got an offer to appear on a baseball card.

It's a moment in baseball that is still being discussed to this day.

The video below has Maier talking about his experience that night.

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