Junior's mom, Birdie, shows off her son's HR ball. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        Brady Coogan bobbled it a bit but hung on — to the souvenir of the year.

        He'd just caught the first home-run ball Ken Griffey Jr. hit as a Red.

        The two-run homer came during the Reds' 8-7, 11-inning victory over the Chicago Cubs Sunday at Cinergy Field.

        Shortly after catching the ball, Coogan was offered $500, then $1,000, from a collector seeking to add it to his collection.

        But Coogan wasn't in it for the money.

        “I wanted Griffey or the Reds to have it,” he said.

        “I wasn't going to sell it to someone I didn't know. Griffey didn't hold out for a lot of money to come to the Reds. Why should I?”

Junior and fans watch his first Reds homer. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Coogan gave the ball to Reds publicity director Rob Butcher, who promised a Griffey-autographed ball and bat in exchange.

        Griffey gave the signed bat and ball to Coogan after the game.

        Griffey said he planned to give the ball to his mother, Birdie.

        “That's how it works,” he said. “She gets most of them. I keep a few.”

        Coogan, 31, works in the auditing department at Fifth Third Bank and lives in Fort Thomas.

        The ball came right at him in his seat in the first row of the green section. Coogan has four season tickets in Section 226 he shares with some friends. He said he usually makes it to 15-20 games a year.

        The home run, the 399th of Griffey's career, came in the sixth inning with Barry Larkin on base. It cut the Cubs' lead to 6-2 and started a comeback.

        Coogan, a lifelong Reds fan, won't soon forget that game.

        “I never even caught a foul ball before,” he said. “This makes up for it.”

Reds 8, Cubs 7 Fan turns down $1,000, gives ball to Griffey 1st Reds HR for Griffey Results of our e-mail poll Reds notebook Verdict still out on Rockies Reds-Rockies scouting report Box, runs

Warrick's drop is Bengals' gain
Arrington cream of linebacker crop
Singh yawns to win
Detroit extends agreement with Ducks
Ducks end with a loss
Mantha ponders his future

• Return to Reds front page...