PHOENIX — A Glendale couple’s trip to see the Arizona Diamondbacks turned into a once-in-a-lifetime baseball story after they caught home run balls on back-to-back nights at Chase Field, both hit by San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames.
Read more Kyle Busch’s last social post left a heartbreaking message to his son
Allan “AJ” Johnson and his wife, Mary Jane Johnson, attended Monday and Tuesday’s Diamondbacks-Giants games, where AJ caught a home run ball each night, an unlikely feat that the couple said still feels surreal.
“I jump up, I watch this thing, it’s curving at me, and it goes into Diamondbacks bullpen,” AJ Johnson said. “I go, that thing’s gonna ricochet, and I watch the thing ricochet, and I caught it.”
The second catch came Tuesday evening, just one day after AJ snagged his first-ever home run ball at Chase Field.
The unusual streak began after the couple accidentally purchased tickets for the wrong game. AJ said they arrived Monday evening, only to discover their tickets were actually for Tuesday’s matchup.
“We show up to the game plenty early to get our seats, and we find out we get in line and show them the tickets on my phone, and the guy says they’re not working,” Johnson recalled. “I said, ‘No, I just bought them.’”
After realizing the mistake, the couple decided to buy another set of tickets for Monday’s game anyway and sat near the Don Sanderson Bullpen area.
That decision quickly paid off.
“Second inning, Willy Adames, for the San Francisco Giants shortstop cracks one over,” Johnson said. “I jump up on the bleacher, and I catch it midair, and I’m just amazed that I caught it.”
Johnson said he looked down at the baseball in disbelief.
“I’ve been playing baseball our whole life, sports and everything else, but I actually physically, at one time, looked down, and I couldn’t believe I caught a home run ball,” he said.
The following day, the Johnsons returned to Chase Field for the game they had originally purchased tickets for, hoping to get the baseball signed by Adames.
“We see one of these PR people or some nice young guy, and I go, ‘Hey, we caught this ball last night, is there a chance that Willy would be willing to sign it for us?’” Johnson said. “And he’s like, ‘Well, let me ask him.’”
Adames later signed the baseball, giving the couple a lasting keepsake and making them new fans of the Giants’ shortstop.
Read more ‘Incredible woman’: Arizonan helps create opportunities for 20,000 Special Olympics athletes
But the story took another improbable turn Tuesday night.
Adames launched another second-inning home run into nearly the same area, and once again, AJ Johnson came away with the baseball.
The Johnsons said they still struggle to comprehend the odds of catching two home run balls on consecutive nights from the same player.
They credited the experience in part to AJ’s late parents, who loved baseball and sports statistics.
Now, the couple hopes to eventually have the second baseball signed as well.
“This is so crazy, the odds of it happening for Major League Baseball and the San Francisco Giants, that they’d be willing to let us meet Willy, take a picture, have him sign the other ball,” Johnson said. “We’d be glad to meet him.”
The Johnsons said they would even consider traveling to San Francisco to meet Adames and watch another Giants game, though they admit they doubt lightning will strike a third time.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere, thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like “Today in AZ” and “12 News” and our daily lifestyle program, “Arizona Midday”—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for “12 News KPNX.”
Amazon Fire TV: Search for “12 News KPNX” to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.
Read more Woman injured after being thrown from vehicle in central Phoenix, police say