The San Francisco Chronicle ran a great story yesterday on the guy who caught Barry Bonds' 756th home run ball, which is being put up for auction Monday and is expected to fetch roughly $500,000:

No. 756 glanced off a few outstretched hands and bounced on the floor before Murphy - who had just put down a $15 crab sandwich - pounced on it and stuffed it in a back pocket.

Fans then pounced on him, and some asked him outright for the ball. After a few minutes of mayhem, he was whisked away by police. He had a little blood on him, he said, and a lot of ketchup.

After a Major League Baseball authenticator put a hologram on the ball, Murphy and Kamal rushed to their hotel near Fisherman's Wharf and checked out.

They got a suite at the Hilton under another name and put the ball in a safe. Murphy, nervous, repeatedly changed the combination. The next morning, he visited a bank, put the ball in a safe deposit box and relaxed.

Murphy said he didn't think the ball was tainted by the steroids controversy that surrounds Bonds and his record.

"You don't hit 756 as a fluke," he said. "He's a tremendous player, and I have great respect for the man."

Kohler, of the auction house, said he wasn't sure how the steroids matter would affect potential buyers. He suggested, perhaps too hopefully, that Bonds had gotten so much publicity that it might be a case of "negative overkill" that sends the price skyward.

Regarding homer No. 755, Kohler said earlier this month that Bonds less-than-universal popularity would hurt the price. "If Bonds were loved by all fans, the price could be double," he said. "Maybe more."

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