Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball, which marked the first 50/50 season in MLB history, has sold for a record sum of $4.392M at auction.
The sale, which was brokered by Goldin Auctions, sets a new record for any ball from any sport on the secondary market.
The ball, which was hit off Marlins pitcher Mike Baumann, eclipses Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball as the most expensive baseball ever sold publicly. Ohtani would finish the night 6-for-6 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in the game.
“Shohei Ohtani made history with this baseball, and now, with the highest sale price for any ball ever sold, this legendary piece of sports memorabilia has made history again,” Goldin CEO Ken Goldin said in a statement.
The Dodgers attempted to retrieve the ball for Ohtani, reportedly offering $300,000 and numerous other incentives, but the fan who caught it turned them all down.
Ownership of the baseball is currently under dispute, with multiple lawsuits having been filed from people claiming they were the ones to catch Ohtani’s historic ball. The lawsuits remain ongoing, however all parties agreed to allow the ball to go to auction so that a final sale value could be determined. The money will be held until a ruling on the rightful owner plays out in court.
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