Reds fan gives special home run ball to Superbubz's family - Cincinnati News, Weather, Sports from FOX19 NOW-WXIX

A father grieving the loss of his 6-year-old son to cancer and facing the first holiday season without him received a special gift Friday.

Wally Herbert was watching television last week when his cell phone pinged, signaling he had a new Facebook message.

"I have a 3-year-old son who would like to give you and your family something very special for Christmas," wrote Trey Jones.

"We have the home run ball."

Tears sprang to Herbert's eyes.

He had appealed to the public to help locate the home run ball Reds first baseman Joey Votto hit into the stands at the team's Aug. 31 home game.

Minutes after hitting the homer, Votto gave his bat and the jersey off his back to his son, Walter "Superbubz" Herbert, 6.

Just over a month later, Superbubz would succumb to pediatric cancer after touching the community's heart with his brave two-year battle.

[Editorial: Votto's heart, not stats, make him MVP]

[Superbubz, 6, loses cancer battle that touched community]

His father has been looking for the ball to complete a memorial wall honoring the boy and to enshrine that incredible day at Great American Ball Park for their entire family as they cope with their loss.

"This is Christmas to me," Wally Herbert said Thursday.

Jones and his son, Keegan, decided the ball meant more to the Herbert family. So on Friday, the father and son gave the ball to Herbert.

"It should be his ball more than mine, I'll tell you that," Jones said. "I can't imagine what they are going through right now, especially with the holidays, first Christmas without their son, so any way we can help them out, we will. I kind of feel bad it's taken this long."

Votto had a special relationship with Superbubz since gifting him the home run bat on Aug. 31.

The moment between the normally gruff Votto and small boy made national news and earned the pair a 2017 MLB award for Best Player-Fan Interaction.

Votto continued to honor Superbubz after the boy died at home early Oct. 6. 

The star athlete quietly joined hundreds of other mourners who attended the child's visitation.

Votto wore a gold ribbon symbolizing childhood cancer awareness pinned over his left chest.

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