News4 Helps Diehard Nats Fan Find Lost Ticket Ahead of Playoff Game
"I was about to pay four hundred dollars — whatever it took to get in there"
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The Nats are one game away from the World Series. The game starts in less than two hours. You have a ticket. But it's nowhere to be found.
A diehard Washington Nationals fan's heart sunk when his ticket disappeared Tuesday night before the Nats' final NLCS game versus the St. Louis Cardinals.
As luck would have it, News4's Shomari Stone found the ticket. Hundreds of retweets and less than a half-hour later, the fan was headed to the game.
WOW. I just found a great ticket to the Washington @Nationals game on the sidewalk, a block from the front gate. I hope the owner is on Twitter. I’m tagging #NATS fans in hopes of finding him. His first name is James. James, I’m located at the front gate. #NLCS#STAYINTHEFIGHTpic.twitter.com/rv4XQ8jFvk
As Stone was preparing to be on air at Nats Park at 6 p.m., he spotted an envelope near the front gate. There was a ticket to the game inside, for $144, paid for by a man named James.
Stone asked his more than 143,000 Twitter followers to help.
"WOW. I just found a great ticket to the Washington @Nationals game on the sidewalk, a block from the front gate," Stone wrote. "I hope the owner is on Twitter. I’m tagging #NATS fans in hopes of finding him. His first name is James. James, I’m located at the front gate. #NLCS #STAYINTHEFIGHT."
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Before long, a man in a Nats vest barrelled down the street looking distressed. It was Rich McAvoy. He said the ticket was a gift from his boss, James Kontzamanys.
"I was about to pay four hundred dollars — whatever it took to get in there," he said.
McAvoy hugged him twice and offered to buy him a beer, which Stone had to decline. He said he was happy to help.
"If I lost my ticket, I would want someone to help me," he said.
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Washington Nationals' Howie Kendrick stops a ground ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Kolten Wong during the fourth inning of Game 2 of the baseball National League Championship Series Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11), center, and the Washington Nationals celebrate winning Game Four of the NLCS between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park.
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Ryan Zimmerman #11 of the Washington Nationals hits a single in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during game four of the National League Championship Series at Nationals Park on October 15, 2019 in Washington, D.C.
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Patrick Corbin #46 of the Washington Nationals delivers a pitch in the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during game four of the NLCS. He became the first pitcher to strike out 10 batters in the first four innings of a postseason game and earned the win after allowing four runs in five innings.
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Washington Nationals left fielder Juan Soto (22) looks up at the scoreboard after lining out in the fifth inning of Game Four of the NLCS.
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Washington Nationals right fielder Adam Eaton (2), left, looks on as Washington Nationals center fielder Victor Robles (16) fields a ball off the wall in the fifth inning of Game Four of the NLCS.
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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer follows through on a pitch to the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning of a National League wild card baseball game, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
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Washington Nationals Trea Turner, right, watches his solo home run in front of Milwaukee Brewers catcher Yasmani Grandal and umpire Mike Everitt in the third inning of a National League wild card baseball game, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
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Washington Nationals left fielder Juan Soto (22) can't field a ball hit by Milwaukee Brewers' Eric Thames during the fourth inning of a National League wild card baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) pitches during the sixth inning of a National League wild card baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
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Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Eric Thames, right, reaches but is unable to make the tag on time as Washington Nationals' Brian Dozier singles in the fifth inning of a National League wild card baseball game, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
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Members of the Washington Nationals celebrate after winning a National League wild-card baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, in Washington. Washington won 4-3. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, greets, Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez before Game 1 of a baseball National League Divisional Series on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin throws to a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during the first inning of Game 1 in baseball's National League Divisional Series on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Dodgers' A.J. Pollock, right, scores on a bases-loaded walk issued by Washington Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin during the first inning of Game 1 of baseball's National League Divisional Series on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Washington Nationals' Adam Eaton advances to third on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning of Game 1 of the baseball team's National League Divisional Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Chris Taylor, right, is tagged out at home by Washington Nationals catcher Yan Gomes while trying to score during the fifth inning of Game 1 in baseball's National League Divisional Series on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Washington Nationals' Howie Kendrick watches his RBI single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Washington Nationals' Victor Robles scores on a single by Adam Eaton during the second inning in Game 2 of the baseball team's National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux tags out Washington Nationals' Asdrubal Cabrera in a rundown during the eighth inning in Game 2 of a baseball National League Division Series on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Washington Nationals right fielder Adam Eaton misses a ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Justin Turner for a double during the third inning in Game 3 of a baseball National League Division Series on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Los Angeles Dodgers A.J. Pollock reacts to striking out against Washington Nationals pitcher Anibal Sanchez during fourth inning in Game 3 of a baseball National League Division Series on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Washington. Standing behind Pollock is Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez throws to a Los Angels Dodgers batter during the fifth inning in Game 3 of a baseball National League Division Series on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin covers his face after allowing a two-run double to Los Angeles Dodgers Russell Martin during the sixth inning in Game 3 of a baseball National League Division Series on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Justin Turner, left, circles the bases after hitting a three-run home run off Washington Nationals relief pitcher Wander Suero, right, during the sixth inning in Game 3 of a baseball National League Division Series on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Washington Nationals' Anthony Rendon (6) hits an RBI-single off Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Julio Urias (7) during the fifth inning in Game 4 of a baseball National League Division Series, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, in Washington. Nationals Trea Turner scored on the hit. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman celebrating his three-run homer off Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Pedro Baez (52) with teammate Howie Kendrick in the fifth inning in Game 4 of a baseball National League Division Series, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, in Washington.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman circles the bases after hitting a three-run homer off Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Pedro Baez (52) in the fifth inning in Game 4 of a baseball National League Division Series, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) is greeted at home by teammates Washington Nationals second baseman Howie Kendrick (47) Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) and Washington Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki (28) after hitting a three-run homer off Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Pedro Baez (52) during the fifth inning in Game 4 of a baseball National League Division Series on Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy watches his two-run home run against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Division Series on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Washington Nationals' Kurt Suzuki gets hit by a pitch during the seventh inning in Game 5 of the baseball team's National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, in Los Angeles.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Washington Nationals' Juan Soto celebrates near Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith after scoring on his home run during the eighth inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Division Series on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Washington Nationals' Howie Kendrick (47) celebrates after a grand slam against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 10th inning in Game 5 of a baseball National League Division Series on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sean Doolittle celebrates after the Nationals' 7-3 win in Game 5 of a baseball National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Washington Nationals' Yan Gomes reacts after his RBI double during the second inning of Game 1 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Washington Nationals' Yan Gomes hits an RBI double during the second inning of Game 1 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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St. Louis Cardinals' Matt Carpenter puts a late tag on Washington Nationals' Adam Eaton after his triple during the seventh inning of Game 1 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, in St. Louis.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Washington Nationals' Michael A. Taylor hits a home run during the third inning of Game 2 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Washington Nationals' Howie Kendrick stops a ground ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Kolten Wong during the fourth inning of Game 2 of the baseball National League Championship Series Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Washington Nationals' Trea Turner hits a single during the sixth inning of Game 2 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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St. Louis Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt is out at second as Washington Nationals' Howie Kendrick turns a double play on a ball hit by Yadier Molina during the seventh inning of Game 2 of the baseball National League Championship Series Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Washington Nationals' Trea Turner scores safely on a two-run scoring double by Adam Eaton during the eighth inning of Game 2 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Washington Nationals' Adam Eaton leaps to catch a ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Tommy Edman during the eighth inning of Game 2 of the baseball National League Championship Series Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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Washington Nationals' Juan Soto and Brian Dozier celebrate after Game 2 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in St. Louis. The Nationals won 3-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the series. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
CORRECTION (6:36 p.m., Oct. 16, 2019): An earlier version of this article said Kontzamanys got the ticket back from Stone, but it was his employee Rich McAvoy.
