A Pittsfield city employee found nearly $500 in cash on North Street. Here’s what he did with it

Jim McGrath came on-air to talk about a theft. He ended up sharing one of the best feel-good stories of the week.

McGrath, Pittsfield's Open Space and Parks Manager, was on-air Monday morning to recap and comment on the troubling theft of a 1997 Pittsfield Mets Championship Ring from a display case at Wahconah Park.

The ring was stolen during last Saturday's farewell community ceremony at the historic ballpark, and the Pittsfield Police Department is now investigating the loss of what many consider a significant piece of local sports heritage.

But before he got to that, McGrath shared something that happened to him on North Street walking his dog before the radio show.

"It started out with a single dollar on the ground, thought it made my day, and it did," McGrath wrote. "Then there was a five, then a twenty, then two one hundred dollar bills stuck together.

The next thing you know, I'm in the middle of North Street and have collected $485 and... a wallet with identification. DOH!"

In other words, the money had an owner all along. And McGrath did exactly what you'd hope someone would do. He hopped on the phone with Greylock Federal Credit Union to alert them.

It's a small moment, but a meaningful one. At a time when the community is on the lookout for the piece of irreplaceable Pittsfield baseball history, it's a good reminder that integrity still shows up on our streets every day.

The Pittsfield Police Department is asking anyone with information about the stolen championship ring to come forward.