McGuire Airman makes lucky catch

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kelly White
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. (AFPN) --  Sports history landed in the lap of a McGuire Airman May 8 while he sat in the right field bleachers of Citizens Bank Park, as the Philadelphia Phillies played the San Francisco Giants. 

Airman 1st Class Carlos Oliveras of the 305th Aerial Port Squadron caught Barry Bonds' 713th home run ball, which left the Giants outfielder one home run behind Babe Ruth for second place on baseball’s career list. 

“Mid-game, I saw the crowd getting up out of their seats, and then I saw the ball bounce off the McDonald’s sign on the upper deck,” Airman Oliveras said. “Ten minutes later, people were still scrambling around looking for the ball. Nobody knew I was sitting there with it hidden under my legs.” 

When Phillies officials realized Airman Oliveras had caught the ball, they escorted him to the VIP section, he said. 

“I watched the rest of the game from the VIP area, was escorted for interviews and photos to the dugout, and then onto the field to meet ESPN for another interview,” Airman Oliveras said. “At the ESPN press conference, I met Barry Bonds, shook his hand and got a photo taken with him.” 

When all was said and done, Airman Oliveras said he was part of the media frenzy until after midnight. Since then, he has given several national sports media interviews. 

While Bonds didn’t sign home run ball #713, Airman Oliveras said he plans to keep it.