Angels fan Tom Sherrill wasn't supposed to catch Albert Pujols' 500th home run ball.
Lucky for the 29-year-old Air Force staff sergeant from Pomona, Calif., he caught a perfect bounce.
According to reports, Sherrill wasn't even in the area but moved to the outfield seats on a hunch after Pujols launched home run No. 499 in the first inning.
"As he hit the ball, right off the bat I could tell it was going over my head, so I took off sprinting up the stairs," Sherrill told the Los Angeles Times. "As I got close to it, I saw Chris (Gordon, the fan who ate it trying to make the catch) coming down and thought 'It's over, he's going to get the ball.' But he squared up on it and blocked it, and it came right to me."
Missing Pujols's 500th home run? Bad. Sprawled on the floor as pretty girls point and laugh? Arguably worse. #Nats pic.twitter.com/my2R2jvuO2
— The D.C. Universe (@dcuniverse) April 23, 2014
Sherrill returned the ball to Pujols, who will keep it in a trophy case at home.
"I've been an Angels fan for 20 years, and I had no intentions other than to give the ball to Albert," Sherrill said after joining FOX Sports West's Mark Gubicza and Victor Rojas in the broadcast booth.
Pujols also had a meet-and-greet with Gordon and his two sons, as well as the couple who caught No. 499 and returned it to the slugger.
"They were pretty honest to give them back," Pujols said. "I appreciate that."
