TORONTO -- The ball that Ken Griffey Jr. hit for career home run No. 600 is going up for
auction.

Joe Scherer, the Marlins fan who was identified as the one who caught the milestone
baseball in the right field seats at Dolphin Stadium on June 9, made the announcement on Thursday.
The Associated Press reported that the ball will be auctioned Aug. 1 in Chicago.

"I'm just
doing what's best for me right now," said Scherer, who had kept his identity hidden for several days
since Griffey hit his homer in Miami.

Reds officials met with Scherer moments after Griffey
became the sixth player in Major League history to hit 600 home runs. Club efforts to negotiate for
the ball were immediately rebuffed since Scherer told the Reds he was selling the ball and not
returning it to Griffey.

Doug Allen, president of Mastro Auctions in suburban Chicago, told
the AP he believed the ball would sell for at least $50,000, and wouldn't be surprised to see the
bidding reach $100,000.

Scherer's path to auction could be blocked by a lawsuit from Justin
Kimball, a fan who claimed he caught the ball first before it was ripped from his hands. Kimball
filed suit to block the ball's sale in Miami-Dade County court.

The Griffey ball will be part
of a live auction in Chicago that also includes items from early 20th-century stars Babe Ruth, Lou
Gehrig and Honus Wagner. Vintage memorabilia from such players is still appreciating in value, Allen
said.

-Mark Sheldon-