It’s Always All About New York, Isn’t It?

Freakin’ Mets fans are everywhere:

Matt Murphy is now the luckiest man in baseball. The 21-year-old Elmhurst native is the proud owner of Barry Bonds’ record-breaking 756th career home run ball after attending Tuesday night’s San Francisco Giants game from the centerfield bleachers.

In an exclusive phone interview with the TimesLedger Wednesday, Murphy said he initially bought the ticket because he was excited by the chance to watch Barry Bonds become a baseball legend. Bonds had already tied the all-time career home run record on Saturday, and there was a good chance that Tuesday would be the night he would shatter it.

“All I wanted to do was just be in the building,” Murphy said.

When Bonds hit the homer in the fifth inning, Murphy not only got to be part of the historic moment but was able to take it away with him. While the cameras were on Bonds circling the bases, Murphy and more than a dozen fans scuffled, pushed and fought for the piece of baseball history. Murphy ultimately scooped the ball up and hid it in his Mets T-shirt, which he proudly wore despite the boos and jeers of Giants fans.

Ballpark security immediately escorted Murphy out of the stadium as he raised his arms in triumph, sporting the battle scars of his scuffle: a bloody nose, twisted ankle and hot dog ketchup stain.

Murphy said he was grateful to security helping him out of the ruckus and back to his hotel room, as many of the fans were already peeved that he came in dressed in full Mets paraphernalia, including a Jose Reyes jersey and cap.

. . .

Murphy’s friends from Archbishop Molloy High School were amazed to see their classmate all over the sports pages and television early Wednesday morning. Just hours after the lucky moment, Murphy’s pals a created group on the online social network Facebook titled “Matt Murphy just caught Barry Bonds’ 756th Homerun,” which has already attracted more than 50 members.

“It’s very cool. He was representing both Queens and Met fans and that’s always something to be happy about,” said Murphy’s classmate Joe Sommo, 22, of Middle Village, who is a member of the group.