We recently connected with Zack Hample and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Zack, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I’ve been a full-time baseball YouTuber since 2017, and I monetized my channel the year before that. I had already made a name for myself in the baseball world as an author and obsessive collector, and thanks to some truly insane luck in 2015 (snagging Alex Rodriguez’s 3,000th career hit, which was a home run at Yankee Stadium), I received a TON of media attention. I’d already made a few videos prior to that, but once I got all that attention and the numbers started increasing, I monetized and started taking it seriously.

Zack, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

A good friend once described me as “just the right amount of too much,” and I think that’s perfect. I’m best known for holding the record for catching the most baseballs as a fan in the stands of MLB games—more than 12,000 if you include batting practice and other warm-ups. I have somewhat of a cult following in the baseball world but also deal with a ton of haters. I hold the world record for catching a baseball dropped from the greatest height (1,050 feet from a helicopter), and I hold half a dozen records on classic arcade video games (Arkanoid being my all-time favorite). My apartment in NYC was featured on HGTV. I’ve appeared on two game shows and been on TV and written up in print hundreds of times. I run a huge writing group and have created other communities and truly love bringing people together. I’ve also used my baseball collection and notoriety to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for a children’s baseball/softball charity, so in addition to doing a whole bunch of silly stuff, I try to be a good person and give back to as many people as possible.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love making something from nothing—creating something unique that never would’ve existed if not for me. I love playing show-and-tell with the world, and in the process of doing that, it’s been great to connect with some like-minded weirdos and inspire so many others out there. I also love not having a boss—not having to go into an office for anyone, ever, anywhere.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2015 and 2016, I received death threats, went into hiding, and issued a public apology because of negative misinformation that was spread about me by mainstream media—and people on the internet getting angry after consuming it. I became a LOT more guarded after that while building a full-time YouTube career and reestablishing a positive and truthful narrative about myself. It’s been a constant struggle but screw the haters. They’ll never win! I love the saying, “The loudest boos come from the cheapest seats” so I keep that in mind when people try to drag me down.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zackhample.com
• Instagram: @zack_hample
• Facebook: @realzackhample
• Twitter: Ew. Can we all please stop supporting the world’s richest and most famous nazi?
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/zackhample

Image Credits

Photos were taken by Rachel Messbauer, Meredith Kim, Jeff Siegel, Brandon Sloter, Zack Hample