Los Angeles Dodgers Star Shohei Ohtani made history Thursday night by becoming the first major league player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, but he no longer has a home run ball to commemorate the milestone.
Craig Misch of the Miami Herald reported that an unidentified fan decided to keep Ohtani's 50-50 ball in the Dodgers' blowout 20-4 victory. Miami Marlins Thursday night at Lawn Depot Park.
Shohei Ohtani (17), designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers, hit a grand slam in the ninth inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Los Angeles on August 23, 2024, and shared his joy with his teammates. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Fans who receive historic baseballs typically return them to the team for perks, but such items could become even more valuable if sold on the market.
According to MLB.com: Aaron Judge's His 62nd home run of the 2022 season sold at auction for $1.5 million, but the most expensive baseball ever sold was Mark McGwire's 70th home run from the 1998 season. The following year, it sold for $3 million.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a grand slam in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 23, 2024 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani becomes the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season
Misch noted that a special ball is used during Ohtani's at-bats, and that the baseballs are real.
Another fan nearly caught the ball (and probably walked away with a lot of money). On the Marlins broadcast, a fan nearly missed the ball — not once, but twice. After Ohtani hit it to the left side of the field and missed, the man reached out, but the ball bounced and he had another chance. He missed it again.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani celebrates as he runs around the bases after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 23, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Ohtani hit three home runs. He came close to achieving that milestone with two stolen bases in a win over Miami that also secured the Dodgers a playoff berth.
“It was something I wanted to get over as quickly as possible, and this is something I'll cherish for a long time,” Ohtani said through an interpreter after the game.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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