In a stunning auction, the baseball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani, when he scored his historic 50th home run of the MLB season, fetched a record-breaking £3.39 million ($4.4 million). On September 19, Ohtani made history as the first player to achieve both 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season during a game against the Miami Marlins.
The price tag eclipses the previous record for a sports ball sold at auction, which was £2.3 million ($3 million) for Mark McGwire's milestone ball from the 1998 MLB season. However, the '50-50 ball' currently faces legal scrutiny, as its ownership is disputed in a lawsuit filed in Florida. An 18-year-old fan named Max Matus claims he initially possessed the ball before another fan, Chris Belanski, allegedly "stole" it from him.
Despite ownership disputes, the auction went ahead, with assurances provided to the buyer by Goldin Auctions. Ken Goldin, founder of the auction house, remarked on the worldwide interest in the ball, highlighting Ohtani's significance in sports.
In addition to his on-field achievements, Ohtani made headlines with his record-setting 10-year contract with the Dodgers worth £539.5 million ($700 million), cementing him as the highest-paid player in baseball history. Off the field, he earns even more than notable sports stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James. To support the Dodgers’ competitive roster, Ohtani agreed to defer a significant portion of his earnings, which will see him making around £1.6 million annually until 2034, and approximately £54 million each year afterwards until 2043. Ohtani and the Dodgers are set to face the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday.
