U.S. EDITIONTHEWEEKLYOBSERVER.COM

HOME  /  SPORTS  /  CHICAGO

VIRAL CATCH

White Sox Fan's Purse Explodes Mid-Celebration Over Walk-Off Homer

Emma Rodriguez snagged Jake Rogers' first career walk-off ball, then lost her ID, cash and birth certificate celebrating it.

OS

BY OBSERVER SPORTS DESK

The Weekly Observer

AUG 27, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
fXinEMAIL

Chicago White Sox fan Emma Rodriguez, 24, became an internet legend after catching catcher Jake Rogers' first-ever MLB walk-off home run ball at Rate Field — then flinging her entire purse into the air jumping for joy.

Video shows Rodriguez's driver's license, credit card, cash and even her birth certificate scattering across the stands as the White Sox celebrated a 6-4 win over the Mets. The clip has racked up millions of views this week for the sheer chaos of it all.

The story has a sweet ending: Rodriguez got every item back, and when she offered Rogers the ball for an autograph, he traded her a signed bat, ball and jersey for it instead — a keepsake from his career-first moment.

SHARE THIS STORY