Shohei Ohtani’s historic 50/50 home run ball has quickly become one of the most sought-after pieces of sports memorabilia on the market. Ohtani made history last week, becoming the first player in MLB history to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.
The milestone home run occurred during a game against the Miami Marlins, further cementing Ohtani’s legacy as a generational talent in both hitting and base running.
On Friday, Goldin Auctions put the legendary ball up for sale, starting the bidding at $500,000 with a buy-now price set at $4.5 million. To the surprise of many, the auction received an impressive bid of $1.28 million on its very first day, showing just how valuable this piece of history has become to collectors.
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However, while the auction is proceeding, there is an ongoing legal battle over who is the rightful owner of the ball. An 18-year-old fan has filed a lawsuit, claiming he originally had possession of the ball at the game before it was allegedly snatched away by an older man. The fan is seeking to have the ball returned, asserting that he is the rightful owner.
Despite the legal dispute, a judge has allowed the auction to continue, but with a stipulation: the ball cannot be officially sold until after the next court hearing, scheduled for October 10.
This decision ensures the legal case will be resolved before any transaction is finalized.
As the auction heats up and the court case unfolds, the 50/50 home run ball is drawing intense interest from collectors and baseball fans alike.
The final price could soar even higher, depending on the outcome of the lawsuit and the willingness of deep-pocketed buyers to add this historic artifact to their collections. All eyes will be on the next court ruling, and in the meantime, the value of this remarkable piece of sports history continues to rise.
