2 Men Arrested After Allegedly Stealing $93,000 Worth of MLB Memorabilia From Former Player

Two men have been arrested in Arizona after allegedly breaking into a storage unit belonging to former Major League Baseball player Daniel Johnson and stealing more than $90,000 worth of belongings, according to police.

Daniel Jacob Thompson, 48, and Michael Charles Hummel, 30, were arrested on October 9, 2026, after investigators linked them to a burglary at a storage facility in Phoenix.

Police said the break-in occurred on September 27 near 24th Street and Campbell Avenue. The suspects allegedly forced their way into the unit and took a collection of valuable items, including baseball memorabilia, player-issued clothing, electronics, collector shoes and high-end purses.

The stolen property was valued at approximately $93,000.

Some of the stolen items were impossible to replace

Johnson, who played professionally for teams including Cleveland, Baltimore, San Francisco and Houston, said many of the belongings were connected to his baseball career.

He and his fiancée, Alison Wysong, had placed the items in storage while their home was being remodeled.

Although some possessions could be replaced, Johnson said the baseball apparel and memorabilia he had collected over more than a decade held personal significance.

For him, the loss went beyond the financial value of the stolen property.

A pawn shop employee helped police identify the suspects

The investigation gained momentum after a pawn shop employee reportedly recognized the men from information shared by police and alerted authorities.

Detectives subsequently obtained a search warrant for the suspects’ home. Police said they recovered items believed to belong to Johnson, including shoes, electronics and baseball gear bearing his name and number.

Investigators also said the men may have targeted multiple storage units, suggesting that other people could have lost property in similar incidents.

Police emphasized that the burglary was not believed to have specifically targeted Johnson. Instead, investigators said the suspects appeared to be moving through the facility and breaking locks to access storage units.

Police ask other potential victims to come forward

Johnson and Wysong expressed gratitude to investigators and the members of the public who helped identify the suspects. They also hope other people whose belongings were stolen can recover their property.

Phoenix police are asking anyone who believes they were affected by the storage facility burglaries to contact detectives.

The two men have been arrested, but the allegations remain subject to the legal process. An arrest does not establish guilt.

For Johnson, the case is about more than recovering expensive belongings. Some of the items represented years of work, memories and milestones from his professional baseball career.

Sources:

PEOPLE

AZFamily

ABC15