The ball that Los Angeles Dodgers' sensation Shohei Ohtani struck for his 50th home run has shattered auction records, selling for an astonishing £3.39m ($4.4m). Ohtani, who made headlines on September 19 by hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in a single season—an unprecedented achievement in Major League Baseball (MLB)—is at the center of this significant sale that underscores his impact on the sport.
This remarkable auction price marks the highest ever paid for a baseball, surpassing the previous record of £2.3m ($3m) set in 1999 for Mark McGwire’s famous ball from the 1998 season. The recent auction, conducted by Goldin Auctions, drew bids from across the globe, signifying the immense significance of this collectible and Ohtani’s influence in sports.
However, the ownership of this iconic "50-50 ball" is under legal scrutiny. An 18-year-old fan, Max Matus, claims he briefly possessed the ball before it was forcibly taken from him by another individual, leading to ongoing disputes. Despite the contentious nature of ownership, all parties involved were willing to proceed with the auction, and the winning bidder has been assured that the ball's transfer will be genuine, stated Ken Goldin, of Goldin Auctions.
Ohtani’s contract with the Dodgers, worth an eye-watering £539.5m ($700m) signed in 2023, further cements his status as one of the highest-paid players in professional sports. Interestingly, for the sake of team strategy, Ohtani has agreed to defer the majority of his earnings, which means minimal pay until 2034, with an anticipated increase afterward.
As anticipation builds around Ohtani and the Dodgers’ upcoming face-off against the New York Yankees in the World Series, not only has Ohtani made history as a player, but he continues to drive significant economic impacts in the realm of sports memorabilia.
This remarkable auction price marks the highest ever paid for a baseball, surpassing the previous record of £2.3m ($3m) set in 1999 for Mark McGwire’s famous ball from the 1998 season. The recent auction, conducted by Goldin Auctions, drew bids from across the globe, signifying the immense significance of this collectible and Ohtani’s influence in sports.
However, the ownership of this iconic "50-50 ball" is under legal scrutiny. An 18-year-old fan, Max Matus, claims he briefly possessed the ball before it was forcibly taken from him by another individual, leading to ongoing disputes. Despite the contentious nature of ownership, all parties involved were willing to proceed with the auction, and the winning bidder has been assured that the ball's transfer will be genuine, stated Ken Goldin, of Goldin Auctions.
Ohtani’s contract with the Dodgers, worth an eye-watering £539.5m ($700m) signed in 2023, further cements his status as one of the highest-paid players in professional sports. Interestingly, for the sake of team strategy, Ohtani has agreed to defer the majority of his earnings, which means minimal pay until 2034, with an anticipated increase afterward.
As anticipation builds around Ohtani and the Dodgers’ upcoming face-off against the New York Yankees in the World Series, not only has Ohtani made history as a player, but he continues to drive significant economic impacts in the realm of sports memorabilia.
