Modell’s Sporting Goods announced the beginning of “Christian Lopez Week” to give some financial help to the Yankees fan who caught Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit.
Lopez passed up a potentially lucrative payday and returned the ball to Jeter.
In exchange, the Yankees gave the 23-year-old many gifts, including season tickets, but it later came out that Lopez, who already has massive student loans, would have to pay taxes on those expensive gifts.
Modell’s representatives say the company will donate five percent of all Yankees merchandise sold this week to help Lopez cover the cost.
Lopez said he has no regrets about giving the ball back.
“The first time I actually got to think about it was when I finally got to sit down, have a glass of water, kind of think about stuff, and at that point I just realized I really just wanted to give the ball to Derek and present him with that because he’s worked so hard for it,” said Lopez.
“He’s a class act, and with good guys, good things always come,” said Mitch Modell of Modell’s Sporting Goods.
Lopez will also get his own baseball card later this year.
