DOCUMENTARY ON HOME RUN BASEBALL DISPUTE SET FOR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15

The documentary, "Up for Grabs: The Hysterical Battle for the Bonds Ball", which outlines the outlandish dispute between two individuals who claimed ownership of the baseball that San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds hit for his record 73rd home run, will be screened at the Japanese American National Museum on Saturday, November 15, at 2 p.m.

In 2001, Bonds broke Mark McGwire’s major league baseball record of 70 home runs in a season set in 1998 by hitting 73. There was much speculation at the time on the value of Bonds’ record home run before he hit it, but everything was thrown into chaos when the baseball was apparently caught by one spectator, Alex Popov, only to have it dislodged by the surging crowd and picked up by a second fan, Patrick Hayashi, at Pac Bell Park in San Francisco.

Filmmaker Michael Wranovics documented the legal dispute that followed over ownership of a ball hit into the stands and the extreme lengths both individuals went through to try to gain full possession of the baseball. The absurdity of the situation is highlighted by the arguments in court, with the question of who is the rightful owner being adjudicated by scholars and judges. In the end, Bonds had the best idea, suggesting that the two individuals sell the ball and split the proceeds. That the two men refuse this common sense approach is at the heart of the dispute and leads to a number of comic situations.

Following the screening, Wranovics will speak and answer questions. This program is free to National Museum members or with admission. For more information, contact the Japanese American National Museum at (213) 625-0414 or go to www.janm.org.