‘Charitable’ Alex Rodriguez Figures out a way to get his 3000th Hit Baseball, and his Bonus Check from the Yankees

Alex Rodriguez (Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports)

It took just over two weeks, but New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez will finally receive his 3,000th-hit ball and he will also get his bonuses from the Yankees.

The Yankees and notorious “ball hawk” Zack Hample, who caught the 3,000th-hit have reached an agreement. The Yankees organization will donate $150,000 to Pitch in for Baseball, a charity Hample has supported since 2009 and provides new and little used baseball and softball equipment to children around the world.

Initially Hample had no intentions of giving the ball back to A-Rod.

“I really don’t know what I am going to do with it but I do not plan on giving it back to Alex Rodriguez,” Hample said back on June 19. “I don’t think A-Rod deserves a favor from a normal civilian like me.”

It is clear that Hample has indeed changed his mind. Along with the donation, the Yankees will hold a press conference for Hample to give the ball back, as well as give him memorabilia, tickets and other perks.

Hample is a baseball celebrity as he snagged over 8,000 baseballs including the last New York Mets homerun at the Shea Stadium, as well as Mike Trouts first career homer. Catching A-Rods homer has only added to the publicity that Hample has gotten.

Hample deserves all he is getting and more as he has turned a baseball into a $150,000 donation to charity as well as a booster of his own profile, while getting tickets and memorabilia along the way.

The notorious “ball hawk” may not be the most liked person in New York, but Hample has done something positive and has made everyone involved happy.

ARod also got his bonuses from the Yankees with a charitable solution.

The New York Yankees and their designated hitter have worked out a deal regarding the bonus money the Yankees owed Rodriguez for tying Willie Mays for fourth on the all-time home run list.

Rodriguez and the Yankees have compromised and resolved the dispute. Rodriguez and the Yankees decided to donate a total of $3.5 million to charities Rodriguez, and Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner select as part of the agreement.

A-Rod, who has enjoyed multiple milestones this season, including his 3,000th hit and 2,000th run batted in is having a fantastic year offensively for the Yankees. The rejuvenated designated hitter is batting .280 with 15 homers and 45 runs batted in.

Along with the statistics, Rodriguez has been a pleasant off-field surprise as well, which contributed to the Yankees’ willingness to make the deal to charity.

Rodriguez has made his share of mistakes that’s for sure, but the way he has carried himself on and off the field in 2015 has given him a chance at redemption in the eyes of the Yankees organization and the Yankees fans alike.

It’s safe to say that without A-Rod in the Yankees lineup, the Yankees wouldn’t be anywhere close to the top of the American League East.