Frank Burke shakes hands with San Francisco Giants' Travis Ishikawa after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of baseball's World Series against the Kansas City Royals Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, in San Francisco. Burke was the fan who caught and returned Ishikawa's home run ball that he hit in the National League Championship Series that sent the Giants into the World Series.SAN FRANCISCO - Travis Ishikawa's line drive headed out toward right field and San Francisco Giants fans immediately began celebrating.
Frank Burke kept tracking the ball's trajectory.
He knew the Shot That Shook the Bay was headed his way and he kept watching it. Burke told himself to keep the ball in front of him. When the hit Thursday night cleared the wall for the winning home run in Game 4 of the NLCS, sending the Giants to the World Series, he knocked the ball down with his left hand and snatched it in his right hand.
Little did he know that catch would make him an instant celebrity - and give him the chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Friday night before Game 3.
The owner of A.G. Transmission Repair in Oakdale, California, has been inundated with requests for pictures and interviews.
He and his wife, Michelle, enjoyed Friday's game from a luxury suite.