Published24. October 2024, 06:16
BaseballHere is the most expensive ball in the history of sport
The ball that enabled Japanese <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/shohei-ohtani-is-ready-to-be-the-face-of-major-league-baseball/” title=”Shohei Ohtani is ready to be the face of major league baseball”>Shohei Ohtani to achieve a historic performance in Major League Baseball a month ago sold at auction for nearly $4.4 million.
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The ball that allowed Shohei Ohtani to reach the historic mark of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a Major League Baseball season, on September 19.
ImagoShohei Ohtani is a pioneer. The 30-year-old Japanese is not only pushing the boundaries of baseball but also those of sport as a whole. After signing the most lucrative contract in the history of his discipline almost a year ago, by signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers ($700 million over 10 years), then becoming the first to reach the mark of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the same season, he initiated the biggest sale of a ball ever seen in all sports.
The amount is dizzying, for such a small object: $4.392 million. The equivalent of a little more than 3.8 million Swiss francs. The buyer – whose name has not been revealed – won an auction organized by Goldin Auctions. Which had got their hands on the ball which allowed Ohtani to create the 50/50 club on September 19, against the Miami Marlins. A match during which the superstar – widely considered the best baseballer in history – delivered for some the greatest performance of all time.
Three men argue over its original ownership
“Shohei Ohtani made history with this baseball and now with the highest sale price for a baseball,” Goldin Auctions boss Ken Goldin said in a statement. We received offers from all over the world, which is a testament to the importance of this iconic collectible and Ohtani’s impact on the sport.”
The auction began on September 27 with a starting price of $500,000 and closed overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday in the United States.
Further proof of the madness caused by the famous bullet, a legal dispute was initiated concerning its initial ownership. Three men are competing for it: Christian Zacek, Max Matus and Joseph Davidov. All claim to be the first to have recovered the ball in the stands of LoanDepot Park in Miami.
