Collecting Game-used: Michael Harris didn't get piece of this

The Rookie of the Year wanted a piece of this pitch ... but somebody else got that.

My latest ball in this Collecting Game-used series is one that I picked up just like others in this series -- a blind grab bag buy of sorts just picking by date -- with the same teams involved as a past time ... but this time the eventual Rookie of the Year, Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II, is a great name attached.

That alone made it a simple highlight for me ... until I saw the highlight reel.

Keep reading to see the details this time ... and the ball in action.

THE BASICS ...
Game-used ball (MLB Authenticated): Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies, July 26, 2022
Watch it in action: Click here ... via MLB Film Room

The matchup: Phillies RP Jeurys Familia vs. Braves CF Michael Harris II
The result: One pitch -- the first ball of an at-bat -- in a nearly clean seventh inning as part of a 6-3 Braves win. But it's not that simple as the ball ricocheted off the glove of Gold Glove catcher J.T. Realmuto and clocked the home plate umpire Rob Drake in the chest, too. It hits him right in the logo and maybe the arm and leg as it goes straight down ... and basically nobody flinches as a new ball is pulled. Had it not hit the ump, it would likely have remained in play ... but now it's in my stash.

What's Buzz-worthy: This one comes from a big game for Harris -- 2-for-4 with a homer (ninth of his career) and two RBI so that's cool. This game also was the fifth victory of the season for Spencer Strider -- him pitching that day was why I picked the date but I struck out on landing something for him. Also homering in this one? Matt Olson and Kyle Schwarber. (Good day for hobby names.) ... The rookie Harris on this play makes it a great ball, though, though he did have a rough start to this season. But the actual play here? Quite simple ... with that little extra trivia involved. The ball does have a few blotches here and there and the Rawlings logo took a hit with some rubbed ink so that's either where it hit the glove or something else or it was used beyond just this play but not previously pulled from play. For the price -- not much more than a typical retail blaster these days -- I'll take it from a blind draw.

--

>> See all past Collecting Game-used stories from Buzz here

--

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

>> Click here to buy baseball cards on BlowoutCards.com