Shohei Ohtani/Home Run Ball/Auction Records/Sports Memorabilia/Legal Disputes/MLB 50-50 Club/Goldin Auctions/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball sells for nearly $44,000 at auction The dollar price sold was a record for any ball in any sport. The sale comes amid an ongoing legal dispute over ownership, with multiple parties claiming to have been the first to snatch the ball after it was knocked into the stands.
Shohei Ohtani’s record-setting home run ball sells for $44,000 amid legal dispute – Quick Facts
- Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball sold at auction for $44,000, setting a record for a sports ball.
- This historic ball marked the milestone of Shohei Ohtani becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season.
- Currently, litigation regarding the ownership of the ball is ongoing, with multiple people filing claims.
- Despite the legal dispute, the auction went ahead, with buyers from around the world bidding.
- Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are preparing for Game 1 of the World Series.
Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball sells for $44,000 amid ownership dispute
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Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball, a piece of historic baseball memorabilia, sold at auction for nearly $44,000, the highest price for a baseball in the history of any sport. Shohei Ohtani is a star in global baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers who became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. He reached this remarkable milestone on March 19, 2024, when he played against The Miami Marlins play at LoanDepot Park.
The auction for the ball began on March 27 with a starting bid of $500,000. The auction ended just after midnight on Wednesday, breaking the previous record. Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of Goldin Auctions, is excited about the global interest in the sale. “The bids we received from around the world are a testament to the importance of this iconic collectible and the impact Shohei Ohtani has had on the world of sports,” Golding said in a statement. However, the identity of the winning bidder has not been disclosed.
Ongoing legal dispute over ownership
While the sale set a record, it was also overshadowed by the ongoing legal dispute surrounding the football’s ownership. Christian Zaczek initially quits Miami LoanDepot Park After retrieving the ball from the left field bleachers, Zaczek snatched it away. However, two other men, Max Matus and Josef Davydov, filed separate lawsuits claiming they had the ball before Zaczek.
Matus celebrated his 18th birthday during the gameHis lawsuit claims he caught the ball before Zaczek could steal it. Davydov claimed in his lawsuit that he had a “firm” grip on the ball with his left hand before it was snatched away. Despite these claims, the parties to the lawsuit agreed to allow the auction to proceed and the ownership dispute to be resolved after the sale.
What’s next for Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers?
As legal proceedings over the ball continue, Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are currently focused on the World Series. Game 1 will take place on Friday night as Shohei Ohtani will lead his team into the Championship Series looking to add to his already stellar season.
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