The baseball hit by Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' sensation, during his landmark 50th home run of the season has made headlines after selling for an unprecedented £3.39 million ($4.4 million) at auction. This remarkable achievement occurred on September 19, 2023, as Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season during a game against the Miami Marlins.
The staggering amount paid for the ball sets a new auction record for a sports item, surpassing the previous mark of £2.3 million ($3 million) set in 1999 for Mark McGwire's famous baseball from his record-breaking 1998 season. The legitimacy of the ownership of Ohtani's '50-50 ball' is under dispute, with an ongoing lawsuit in Florida.
Max Matus, an 18-year-old fan, claims he initially caught the ball before it was taken from him by another fan, Chris Belanski. The various claimants to the ball agreed to let it be auctioned, with Goldin Auctions assuring the eventual buyer complete ownership of the item. Ken Goldin, the founder of Goldin Auctions, expressed excitement at the global interest, stating the auction reflected Ohtani's significant impact on sports culture.
Ohtani, who signed a record 10-year contract worth £539.5 million ($700 million) with the Dodgers in 2023, acknowledged the nature of his finances; while he receives lucrative on-field earnings, his off-field income outpaces even soccer legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He has notably agreed to defer much of his salary to help maintain a competitive team. Ohtani and the Dodgers are set to face the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series, marking a significant moment in the player’s illustrious career.
