Dodgers Star Shohei Ohtani's Historic 50/50 MLB HR Ball Could Sell for $10M+
October 22, 2024
If you have $10 million lying around and want to own a piece of Shohei Ohtani memorabilia, you are in luck.
Ken Goldin of Goldin Auctions told TMZ Sports that Ohtani's 50th home-run ball from this season which made him the first member of the 50-50 club could sell for $10 million at auction.
"It wouldn't blow my mind," Goldin said, "if some foreign bidder put this to eight figures and it topped $10 million."
The most expensive game-used ball that has ever been sold was Mark McGwire's 70th home run from the 1998 season that went for $3 million when it was sold in 1999. Aaron Judge's 62nd homer from the 2022 season sold for $1.5 million in December 2022.
Ohtani's milestone homer came in the seventh inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers' 20-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Sept. 19. He finished the game 6-for-6 with three homers, 10 RBI, two doubles, two stolen bases and four runs scored.
There was some initial uncertainty about the rightful owner of the ball because there was a scramble in the stands at LoanDepot Park to grab it.
Darren Rovell of Cllct.com noted on Sept. 25 that Max Matus filed a lawsuit claiming he was the rightful owner of the ball because it was in his possession first and Chris Belanski, who came away with it, wrongfully stole it during a scrum. Another fan filed a separate lawsuit on Sept. 30, claiming he had possession of the ball.
A Florida judge ruled on Oct. 15 that as part of an agreement between the parties involved that the auction and sale of the ball can proceed as planned, but the lawsuits will proceed with the three individuals involved. Goldin Auctions has been dismissed as a defendant in both lawsuits.
Per the listing on Goldin Auctions' website, bidding for the ball is currently at $2.1 million. The auction is set to end at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, but TMZ noted the deadline could be extended for days because the auction allows for new bids as long as they come in before the 30-minute interval deadline expires.
In addition to the historic homer that gave Ohtani 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season, his 17 total bases in the win against the Marlins were tied for the fourth-most in a single game in MLB history.
Ohtani and the Dodgers are preparing to face Judge and the New York Yankees in the World Series. Game 1 will be played at Dodger Stadium on Friday at 8:08 p.m. ET.