KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals again beat the New York Mets on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead in the World Series.
But a lot of people are still talking about Alex Gordon’s home run in the ninth inning of Game 1 on Tuesday. That ball went to dead center field — and is now in Colorado.
The man who got the ball, Blake Esfeld, watched Game 2 with his 8-month-old son, Weston, at their Stapleton home. He still can’t believe he was inside Kauffman Stadium less than 24 hours earlier after his wife surprised him with tickets.
“My brother and I probably took a hundred photos just because we were in awe of being there,” Esfeld said.
Home run baseball that tied Game 1 of the World Series. (Photo: Blake Esfeld) 
Home run baseball that tied Game 1 of the World Series. (Photo: Blake Esfeld) 
Home run baseball that tied Game 1 of the World Series. (Photo: Blake Esfeld) 
Home run baseball that tied Game 1 of the World Series. (Photo: Blake Esfeld) 
Home run baseball that tied Game 1 of the World Series. (Photo: Blake Esfeld)
But nothing compared to the moment when Gordon hit the home run.
“He just smoked it and as soon as I saw him hit, I just started running as fast as I could. … All of a sudden I saw it pop through a little seem in the bottom of the wall and it was laying there right in front of me,” Esfeld said.
Wearing his Alex Gordon jersey, Esfeld hopped over the railing and grabbed the ball.
“I just jumped around like a 12-year-old kid,” he said.
It was the hit that tied the game, leading to the longest Game 1 in World Series history.
“As soon as I saw the green marking on it, I knew that there was no way it was any other ball,” Esfeld said.
And the Royals went on to take the win over the Mets after more than five hours and 14 innings.
“It was surreal,” Esfeld said.
It could mean big money for this lucky fan, with Alcides Escobar’s inside-the-park home run ball going for more than $3,000 at auction with seven days to go.
But in this home, and for this central Kansas native, baseball runs in the family.
“My grandpa was a huge baseball fan and my dad,” Esfeld said. “I grew up playing baseball. There’s nothing I would enjoy more than seeing my son grow up watching and playing baseball.”
And for now, Esfeld said that is where the ball will stay, in the hands of his son.
“He kind of had a big grin on his face when he saw it,” Esfeld said.
His little boy, growing up, with America’s favorite pastime right at his fingertips.
“There’s a bunch of people that would probably put it in a box and not let anybody ever touch it again,” Esfeld said. “I’d rather see him play with it and enjoy it than see it inside of a glass box.”