Major League Baseball

Marlins done dealing with fan over ball

Published Apr. 20, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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The Miami Marlins say the fan who caught the first home run ball at Marlins Park can keep it after admitting defeat in their attempts to claim it back for posterity.

"We don't want it," Marlins spokesman P.J. Loyello told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Greg Eisinger, a law student and longtime Marlins fan, grabbed the historic homer struck by Astros rookie J.D. Martinez in the new park last Friday.

He was whisked away by officials to a VIP room, where the team's offer of a bat autographed by Hanley Ramirez fell well below the fan's asking price.

"He wanted season tickets for it," Loyello said. "We said no."

Eisinger said he was open to negotiations with the team, but a compromise could not be found.

Instead, the Marlins played hardball once he asked to get his prized catch approved by Major League Baseball in order to increase its value.

Officials informed him of the MLB policy against authenticating balls that had entered a crowd.

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