Matt Murphy Instant Millionaire on Famous Catch

Matt Murphy showed up at the Giants-Nationals game wearing a New York Met jersey. Little did he realize, as he went through the turnstile, that this would be a majestic day in more ways than one.

The 22 year old from Queens was sitting in Right Center Field when the blast off Bonds bat reached his section of the ball park. For Barry Bonds it ended a long chase that has had many emotional moments. For Matt Murphy it has just began.

Bonds hit his 756 Home run that ended a 33 year record held by Hall of Famer Hank Aaron.

Murphy didn't catch the ball on the fly but, went into a group of people that were fighting for the ball and came out with it. He came out bloodied but with the ball. He was soon escorted by security and police out of the stands and into a secure room. As he high fived many of the fans, he placed the ball in the back pocket of his plaid shorts.

Murphy didn't show up for a press conference after the game. Many memorabilia experts claim the ball is worth between $400,000 and $500,000. However, that estimate is expected to rise closer to the million dollar mark. Mark McGuire's ball in 1998 brought in right at 3 million dollars when he broke Roger Maris's 61 home run record. Bonds said at a post game news conference that he didn't want the ball. He just hoped that Murphy was okay.

Murphy and a friend had purchased the tickets three weeks ago and had a one day stop over before heading to Australia. He may want to stay in Australia. If he would sell the ball, he would fall into a very high tax bracket. On a $600,000 ball, his taxes would be about $210,000. That only goes up with the value of the ball also.

Even if Murphy doesn't sell the ball, he could owe taxes on it based on its legitimate value. Capital Gaines tax could also be leveled on the ball as it rises in value. If the value on the ball goes down because Bonds is found to have been using steroids, he could claim a loss. If he receives any money for guest appearances on talk shows, he would be taxed on that too.

Lets say he donates the ball to a charity. Then he could possibly collect from the IRS as a charitable deduction on his donation. Go figure.

Murphy said that he and his friend had been eating crab sandwiches at AT&T Park and had just gotten back in time for Bonds' big bash.

It is sort of ironic that the three top home run hitters of all time, has in one way or another, had a New York connection. Babe Ruth was a Yankee, Hank Aaron hit his off Al Downing a former Yankee, and Murphy, from New York, comes up with Bonds historical ball.

Murphy told the "Today Show" that he will probably just keep the ball because of it's sentimental value. but one has to wonder where the college student will come up with the money to pay the taxes that could come up on the ball. Murphy will have some major decisions to make in the near future.

Probably the real winner in all of this is Uncle Sam (IRS). He never attended the game but, stands to make some cash. It would appear that Bonds got the record, Murphy got the ball, and Uncle Sam is laughing all the way to the bank.

sources; www.kutv.com
image credit; Lisa Blumenfeld of Getty Images