There is an ongoing debate regarding the scoreboard at Miller Park. The topic of the discussion is all about whether the ball that appeared on the scoreboard was hit and stuck or deliberately placed there.
It seems the time in question also surrounds Matt Kemp, famed hitter of the Los Angeles Dodgers. During a game, Kemp made a hit from a ball thrown by Dave Bush that scored a homerun. The estimating of the ball distance was around 447 feet. While that alone should have caught everyone’s attention, the real star of the show was the fact that the placement of the ball was near the stadium scoreboard and, it seems there was a ball stuck in position, on the board, right under the number six. Kemps ball hit the scoreboard but even it didn’t stay on the board.
Immediately after the famous Kemp hit, the broadcasting programmers made sure that everyone in the stadium became aware of the stuck ball. People guessed as to how this might have happened and were quite astounded that no one noticed the ball previously. Some thought that the ball may have been hit during a practice game, others pondered that it might have been deliberately placed there. Some stated that the ball in question could have actually been launched for the sole purpose of sticking.
There are those that think the ball may have been put on the scoreboard due to timing. Bud Selig had recently been honored by dignitaries in the local area with his own statue. Bud was a former owner of the Brewers so, could the ball relate to this honorary event?
The ball remained on the scoreboard throughout the game, with the Dodgers winning over the Brewers. The controversy of this simple ball, stuck to a scoreboard created quite a stir. This was such a simple thing, a single white baseball on the black background of a sports scoreboard. You wouldn’t think that it would cause such attention. But, the debate continued.
Video replays were viewed and posted to compare Kemp’s hit with the strength and velocity needed to hit a ball and have it actually stick to the scoreboard. Some decided that if a hit of that power couldn’t make the ball stick, then it must have been purposely placed there. If that was the case, then when did this happen and why didn’t anyone notice it?
The mystery of the stuck ball was always a source of confusion and debate. When the decision to replace the older scoreboard came around, there were those that suggested the stuck ball be bronzed as part of a memorial for the scoreboard. Still others disagreed as they needed to know the reason, purpose and how it was stuck before the offered a memorial to the ball.
Quietly, almost imperceptibly, an update on the infamous stuck ball was posted online. Apparently, during batting practice, a new Brewers team member hit the ball. We have Chris Dickerson of Brewers fame to thank for coming forward.
The question, however, remains whether or not everyone will believe it.