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October 5, 2007
AP photo / Charles Krupa
Danny Vinik of Boston, left, catches a pop foul off the bat of Boston Red Sox's Manny Ramirez before Los Angeles Angels catcher Jeff Mathis, right, can reach in to catch it during the fifth inning of tonight's game.
BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- His name is Danny Vinik, and he’s Boston’s newest favorite son.
The 17-year-old son of one of the Red Sox’ limited partners, he was the fan who outbattled Angels catcher Jeff Mathis for a foul ball in the fifth inning, keeping Manny Ramirez’ at-bat alive and eventually leading to Boston’s tying run last night. Ramirez wound up walking and the subsequent fly ball to center by Mike Lowell, instead of being the third out, was a sacrifice fly that drove in Dustin Pedroia from third.
“I still can’t believe it,’’ said Vinik. “I just reached over, I don’t really remember.’’
Even though Vinik is just 17, fans are trying to buy him beers, shouting "The next president of Red Sox Nation. Forget [Jerry] Remy [who won the redsox.com election]."
Another fan screamed, “He’s the anti-Bartman.’’
“That sounds good to me,’’ said Vinik when that fan referred to Steve Bartman, the Cubs fans who caught the foul ball in Chicago, keeping outfielder Moises Alou from catching it and leading to a game-winning rally by Florida in Game Six of the 2003 NLCS.
Vinik was sitting with his dad, Jeff, in the front row in Jeff Vinik’s season tickets. Fans were taking his picture and asking for his autograph.
“This is unbelievable,’’ he said.
Due to the intense coverage of Red Sox playoff baseball, a makeshift photographer’s well was built in front of some of the field boxes. Because of that, Mathis couldn’t get all the way to the permanent wall for what could have been a much easier play.
Vinik said he’s already received a ton of phone calls about his play.
Ironically, Jeff Vinik, a Red Sox season-ticket holder and limited partner for the club, had an opportunity to catch a foul ball at a Red Sox game four years ago, and when he didn’t Danny gave him some grief, telling him at the time “I would never drop a foul ball.”
Danny proved that last night.
“I had a chance and I dropped it,” said Jeff Vinik. “He didn’t miss it. It was a good catch. I hope his high school coach saw it.”
The play did not go unnoticed with the Red Sox players after the thrilling 6-3 walk-off victory.
“That was awesome,” said Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. “I saw it from third base. That guy’s great. I don’t know what his name is, but he needs a tour around here. I heard he’s one of the owners’ sons; he’s probably sitting there on purpose.”
“Oh my God,” added David Ortiz. “He’s going to go down in history. He made it happen."
Posted by Joe McDonald 
at 11:09 PM | Permalink
Jvstin Phoenix | October 6, 2007 2:53 AM link
John Henry | October 6, 2007 2:56 AM link
pat davis | October 6, 2007 12:02 PM link
Arthur Lopez | October 6, 2007 4:17 PM link
Me | October 8, 2007 12:42 PM link
Dude, that was wicked awesome... Good job kid!!!