Shohei Ohtani/ home run ball/ auction record/ sports memorabilia/ legal dispute/ MLB 50-50 club/ Goldin Auctions/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball sold for nearly $4.4 million at auction, setting a record for any ball in any sport. The sale occurred amid ongoing legal disputes over ownership, as multiple parties claim to have first grabbed the ball after it was hit into the stands.
Ohtani’s Record-Setting Home Run Ball Sells for $4.4M Amid Legal Battle – Quick Look
- Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball sold for $4.4 million at auction, a record for any sport ball.
- The historic ball marks Ohtani’s milestone as the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season.
- Multiple lawsuits are ongoing over ownership of the ball, with claims from several individuals.
- The auction continued despite the legal disputes, with bids from around the world.
- Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are preparing for Game 1 of the World Series.
Ohtani’s 50th Home Run Ball Sells for $4.4M Amid Ownership Dispute
Deep Look
Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball, a historic piece of baseball memorabilia, sold for nearly $4.4 million at auction, marking the highest price ever paid for a ball in any sport. Ohtani, a global baseball sensation and Los Angeles Dodgers star, became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. He reached this remarkable milestone on September 19, 2024, when he hit his second of three home runs against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park.
The auction for the ball began on September 27 with a starting bid of $500,000 and closed just after midnight on Wednesday, breaking previous records. Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of Goldin Auctions, expressed his excitement about the global interest in the sale. “We received bids from around the world, a testament to the significance of this iconic collectible and Ohtani’s impact on sports,” Goldin said in a statement. However, the identity of the winning bidder has not been disclosed.
Ongoing Legal Dispute Over Ownership
While the auction set records, it has also been clouded by ongoing legal battles over the ball’s ownership. Christian Zacek initially walked out of Miami’s LoanDepot Park with the ball after retrieving it from the left-field stands. However, two other individuals, Max Matus and Joseph Davidov, have filed separate lawsuits claiming they gained possession of the ball before Zacek.
Matus, who was celebrating his 18th birthday at the game, claims in his lawsuit that he grabbed the ball before it was taken by Zacek. Davidov, in his lawsuit, asserts that he had “firmly and completely” secured the ball in his left hand before it was wrestled away. Despite these claims, all parties involved in the litigation agreed to allow the auction to proceed, with the ownership dispute to be settled afterward.
What’s Next for Ohtani and the Dodgers
As legal proceedings over the ball continue, Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are focused on the World Series. With Game 1 scheduled for Friday night, Ohtani is set to lead his team into the championship series, hoping to add another historic achievement to his already stellar season.
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