What is it with the Boston Red Sox and their last-out World Series balls? The first time they won it all in 2004, first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz took the ball home and wouldn’t give it back after he was traded. Now, reliever du jour Jonathan Papelbon says his bulldog “Boss” ate last year’s winning ball because it was just hanging around the house. Dude, we have a Hideo Nomo signed ball encased at home. It’s the least Papelbon could have done with the ball he won the World Series with!

“He plays with baseballs like they are his toys,” Papelbon told the Hattiesburg (Miss.) American. “He jumped up one day on the counter and snatched it. He likes rawhide. He tore that thing to pieces. Nobody knows that. I’ll keep what’s left of it.”

As owners of two dogs, we know there’s going to be a lot of the ball coming out soon. He’s just gotta be real clean about it afterwards.

Papelbon’s dog eats World Series ball [Sporting News]
Image [llamabutchers.mu.nu]