Record-Breaking Auction: Ohtani's '50-50' Baseball Sells for £3.39m

The ball struck by Shohei Ohtani that symbolizes his remarkable baseball achievement has sold for £3.39m at auction. While the transaction marks a milestone in sports memorabilia, questions linger over the true ownership of the ball, as parties involved have filed legal claims.

The ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, when he accomplished the remarkable feat of scoring his 50th home run of the Major League Baseball season, has fetched a record-breaking £3.39m ($4.4m) at auction. Ohtani, who is 30 years old, made history as the first player ever to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases within a single season during a game against the Miami Marlins on September 19.

The recent auction price marks the highest ever for a sports ball, eclipsing the previous record of £2.3m ($3m) set in 1999 for a baseball associated with Mark McGwire's legendary 1998 season. However, ownership of Ohtani's historic '50-50 ball' is currently disputed, as it is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit in Florida.

Max Matus, an 18-year-old fan, has claimed in court documents that he initially caught Ohtani's ball. He alleges that the ball was wrested from his grasp by another individual, Chris Belanski, who he claims physically restrained him to retrieve the ball. Despite the legal uncertainty surrounding ownership, all disputing parties agreed to proceed with the auction.

Ken Goldin, the founder of Goldin Auctions, expressed enthusiasm for the auction results, stating that bids were received globally, emphasizing both the ball's significance as a collectible and Ohtani's impact on the sport overall. He assured the winning bidder that the ball would be fully transferred to their possession.

In recent years, Ohtani has become a household name, particularly after signing a staggering 10-year contract worth £539.5m ($700m) with the Dodgers in 2023—the largest contract in baseball history. Notably, Ohtani's off-field earnings have surpassed those of sports legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and LeBron James. To maintain the competitiveness of the Dodgers roster, Ohtani agreed to defer a substantial portion of his income, which will result in him earning approximately £1.6m annually until 2034, after which he will earn around £54m each year until 2043.

As the exhilaration surrounding Ohtani’s achievements continues, he and the Dodgers are set to face the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday.