Fan with A-Rod’s milestone ball won’t give it back

NEW YORK – The fan at Yankee Stadium who wound up with the ball from the 3,000th hit by Alex Rodriguez doesn’t plan to give it back.

Zack Hample describes himself as a pro at catching home run balls, and is credited with collecting more than 8,000 baseballs at stadiums around the country. He tweeted Friday night that he told the Yankees he’s keeping this prized souvenir from A-Rod.

Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo said during the game that the man intended to keep the ball.

“As far as we’re concerned, we have done everything we could to engage this guy in some type of discussion about some type of exchange. He had none of anything we were saying. He wouldn’t engage at all,” Zillo said.