Fan makes splash landing for home run ball

A dedicated baseball fan has found instant infamy after making an ungraceful splash landing into the San Francisco Bay to snare himself a home run trophy on Saturday (US time).

The fan was walking along the esplanade outside AT&T Park when Giants second baseman Joe Panik stepped up to the plate against the Philadelphia Phillies in the Major League Baseball.

Swinging away on the second pitch, Panik launched the ball high over right field where it was missed by the spectators and bounced over the back of the stand.

But as the stadium roared Panik around the bases for the home run, dramatic scenes were unfolding outside as one brave fan chased the ball into the dark waters of McCovey Cove.

Dropping down from the stand, the ball evaded the fan and took one hop before plunging into the drink.

The man immediately hurdled the rail after the ball, but in his haste, got his foot stuck in the handlebars of a bicycle propped up against the fence.

The unceremonious dive failed to deter the fan from his mission, fishing out the ball before trying to swim back to the dock.

However, the fan's humiliation was not yet complete as he was forced to accept a life preserver to help him back to dry land.

The fan's never-say-die attitude was backed up by the home side with the Giants claiming a 15-2 win.