June 16--A San Rafael fire captain received the ultimate Father's Day gift during the Giants-Rockies game in San Francisco when he plucked a home run ball out of the air while holding his son.
Rob Winner, 37, of Vallejo, has been a San Rafael firefighter and paramedic for more than seven years. On Sunday he pulled off the ultimate catch when Colorado Rockies player Troy Tulowitzki hit a home run. With the reflexes of a cat, Winner nabbed the ball with his left hand while balancing his 1-year-old son Thomas on his right hip. He then calmly walked back to his seat.
Winner said he was attempting to return to his seat after briefly leaving his seat with Thomas.
"I was changing his diaper in the bathroom. Then I came up and the batter was in the batter box. It's bad form to walk in front of people when someone is in the box. So I was talking to the usher when I saw him hit the home run," Winner said. That's when he made the one-handed catch as his son, who was decked out in Giants gear, enjoyed his pacifier. While Winner was excited to catch the ball, he said he was also a bit frustrated with his team.
"I was a little upset the Giants gave up a home run," he said.
Video: Watch Winner Make the Catch
Winner has been a Giants season ticket holder for 14 years and an avid baseball fan since he was a child. His parents frequently took him to Giants and Oakland A's games, but he became a devoted Giants fan in 1989 after attending the World Series quake game.
Even his wife Lindsay Winner is a baseball fanatic and attends as many A's games as she can. The two got engaged when her husband proposed in the parking lot at a Giants-A's game.
San Rafael fire Chief Chris Gray said he was impressed with Winner's catch, but not really surprised because his actions were typical of his steady, level-headed demeanor. Gray said Winner is a fantastic employee and dedicated father.
"He's embraced fatherhood like you can't believe. That little guy goes with him everywhere. That little fella is going to grow up in a sports family," Gray said.
As far as Sunday's epic catch is concerned, Winner said baseballs usually don't end up anywhere near his bleacher seats so the opportunity was a pleasant surprise.
"It was very unique. A lucky right-place, right-time situation," he said.
After catching the ball, hitter Tulowitzki asked Winner if he could keep the ball as it was his first Father's Day and he wanted to save it for his 6-month-old son. Winner complied and in return received an autographed ball from Tulowitzki.
"It'll be a great story to tell Thomas later in life," Winner said.
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Copyright 2014 - The Marin Independent Journal, Novato, Calif.
