Philadelphia baseball fans stayed true to their reputation during Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game, directing loud boos at just about anyone wearing the wrong uniform, or, in Zack Hample’s case, simply doing what he’s become famous for.
The longtime baseball collector, author, and YouTuber once again found himself at the center of attention after adding two more baseballs to his massive collection during the American League’s 4-0 victory over the National League at Citizens Bank Park.
One moment in particular turned into an unexpected spectacle.
After Hample secured a baseball during the fifth inning, thousands of fans let him hear exactly what they thought. Boos echoed around the stadium as the 48-year-old proudly held up his latest prize. One particularly animated Phillies fan even stood up, walked over, leaned directly into Hample’s space, and booed into his ear while flashing a dramatic thumbs-down gesture before returning to his seat.
Hample responded briefly, although exactly what was said wasn’t audible.
Hample Shrugs Off Hostile MLB All-Star Reception
Despite becoming one of the night’s unexpected villains, Hample didn’t seem especially rattled afterward.
“People in Philly boo everyone, so whatever,” Hample told reporters. He pointed out that his overall experiences in Philadelphia have been overwhelmingly positive over the years.
“Over the years I’ve had an amazing time at that stadium and with Phillies fans who’ve been overwhelmingly kind and supportive,” he said.
Hample also noted that much of what happened off-camera painted a very different picture.
“I’m sure that no one in right field posted a video of any of the dozens of kids who enthusiastically approached me during the All-Star Game for selfies and autographs,” he wrote. “And I’m sure that the people booing don’t know about the charity work that I’ve been doing for a Pennsylvania-based organization since 2009 to help kids play ball.”
That charitable work is well documented. In fact, Citizens Bank Park honored Hample in November for his longtime support of Pitch In For Baseball & Softball, a nonprofit that provides baseball and softball equipment to young athletes around the world.
The cheers may have been scarce inside the stadium Tuesday night, but things became even harsher online. Social media users piled on almost immediately.
“People paying good money to have this lunatic climb over them for a foul ball,” one person posted on X.
Another joked, “He should probably travel with security in Philly.”
Others were even less charitable.
“The hate he gets is not right,” one sarcastic post began before adding, “he deserves more.”
One critic labeled Hample the “thief of all joy.”
Not everyone joined the pile-on.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy defended Hample, calling him “one of the great misunderstood geniuses of our generation.”
A Reputation Built on Chasing Baseballs
The reaction reflects the unusual place Hample occupies in baseball culture. To some fans, he represents unmatched dedication. To others, he symbolizes everything that’s frustrating about spectators who compete with children and fellow fans for baseballs.
Hample has spent decades building what he says is a collection of more than 13,000 baseballs gathered from Major League parks. He has written books explaining his techniques, appeared on NBC’s The Tonight Show, and turned his unusual hobby into a full-time public persona.
The criticism has followed him just as consistently.
For years, Hample has rejected accusations that he pushes fans aside to collect baseballs. While acknowledging that he sometimes reached in front of others when he was younger, he has repeatedly said those days are behind him.
Still, controversy seems to find him. Earlier in 2025, Hample made headlines during a game at George M. Steinbrenner Field, where the Tampa Bay Rays were temporarily playing home games after hurricane damage forced them out of Tropicana Field.
Los Angeles Angels infielder Kyren Paris launched a deep fly ball toward left-center field with Rays outfielder Christopher Morel tracking it near the wall. Hample reached over the fence and caught the ball before Morel could make the play.
Umpires reviewed the play for possible fan interference but ultimately allowed the home run to stand, saying there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the call. The Angels went on to win 4-3, making the disputed home run the difference in the game.
The Alex Rodriguez Ball That Made National Headlines
The incident added another chapter to Hample’s long history of controversial catches.
Perhaps his most famous moment came in 2015 when he caught Alex Rodriguez’s 3,000th career hit—a home run into the Yankee Stadium bleachers. I looked down, and the ball was at my feet,” Hample recalled afterward. “It ricocheted, and it was almost touching my shoe.”
Rather than immediately handing the historic baseball back, Hample said he believed fans had every right to decide what to do with milestone souvenirs.
“My intention all along… was not to give it back,” he explained at the time. He argued that superstar players who had earned hundreds of millions of dollars did not necessarily deserve special treatment simply because they wanted a baseball returned.
Eventually, the situation ended differently than many expected.
Hample agreed to give Rodriguez the ball, and in return the Yankees donated $150,000 to Pitch In For Baseball & Softball, supporting the charity Hample has championed for years.
Tuesday night’s boos in Philadelphia were hardly the first time Zack Hample has become the story instead of the game. Judging by the reaction inside Citizens Bank Park and across social media, they almost certainly won’t be the last.
