Famous Ballhawk Angers Vets by Collecting Souvenirs at Fort Bragg Game

Ball collector Zack Hample collected some virtual flying objects thrown his way on social media after compiling numerous souvenirs at Sunday night’s MLB game at Fort Bragg reserved for military personnel and their family members.

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

In fact, Hample boasted of collecting eleven balls, a skill he told Breitbart Sports last season that comes with understanding “the players’ tendencies, know[ing] how to judge and catch long fly balls, and hop[ping] over rows of seats with ease.”

But the man who snagged the ball from ARod’s 3,000th hit and Mike Trout’s first home run catches only controversy in the wake of showing up to the military appreciation night. “Zack, that game CLOSED to NON department of Defense Employees and their family,” a Twitterican dubbed Marlins_Man demanded on social media. “Give any balls u have to kids and leave. NOW.”

Others took to Twitter to express similar disgust at Hample watching the Miami Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 5-2 from the stands rather than from his couch.

My bro was bummed yesterday that his unit at Fort Bragg didn’t get tickets. Now I see noted ballhawk Zack Hample got a ticket. Disgusting.

— Tony Paul (@TonyPaul1984) July 4, 2016

@MLB needs to ban @zack_hample from all ballparks. Off the charts arrogance (and stupidity) with this Fort Bragg game

— Tim Ehrhardt (@PaysonRealtorAz) July 4, 2016

@MLB hosts a game at Fort Bragg clearly to honor, and support military families and @zack_hample goes there. Scumbag

— Hirsty (@d_hirsty) July 3, 2016

Hample countered that he donated money to a military charity and gave away all but one of the balls he caught.

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

FYI, I got my ticket through a friend whose entire unit got ’em. He was gonna bring his GF who doesn’t like baseball so he took me instead.

— Zack Hample (@zack_hample) July 4, 2016

But this attempt to quell outrage may spark more of it. “My phone is blowing up,” Hample boasted earlier this year. “@MLB to play a regular season game at Fort Bragg?! Wow. You can bet your ass I’ll be there — stadium No. 52 for me.”

Hample’s Twitter account contained evidence of entertaining the idea of obtaining a ticket from strangers online. One wrote to the ballhawk, “Zack I’m active duty military about 3 hours away from Fort Bragg and 100% willing to take up this offer.”