MLB star Shohei Ohtani's 50th home run ball of the season has been auctioned off for a record amount, more than what would be paid for any type of game ball, according to ESPN.
The Los Angeles Dodgers slugger is the only baseball player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season, according to Us Weekly. Exitcausing a ball-crazy chaos when he reached the milestone on September 19 against the Miami Marlins.
After receiving 27 bids, Goldin closed the ball's online auction Tuesday night for a staggering $4.4 million without disclosing the buyer.
The second-highest price ever paid for a game ball was $3 million for Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball, purchased by comic book author Todd McFarlane in 1999.
“Shohei Ohtani made history with this baseball, and now, so far,” Goldin founder and CEO Ken Goldin said in a statement obtained by ESPN. “This legendary sports memorabilia makes history once again with the highest sales price of any ball ever sold.” “We received bids from all over the world, which is a testament to the importance of this iconic collectible and the impact Ohtani had on the sport, and we are thrilled for the winning bidder.”
But a lawsuit is brewing over who actually grabbed the ball first when it shot out into the crowd.
Christian Zacek was the fan who ultimately left Miami Stadium with the ball after scrambling for it in the left field stands, while Max Matus and Josef Davidov each started their own teams. lawsuit claiming that they were the first to obtain it, daily mail The Associated Press reported.
Matus, who was celebrating his 18th birthday at the time of the game, claimed in his lawsuit that Zachek stole the ball after he had already grabbed it. Davidoff also claimed that he “grasped the ball firmly and completely with his left hand on the ground and succeeded in getting the ball 50-50.”
Davidoff is seeking more than $50,000 in damages, the newspaper said.
Despite ongoing litigation, all parties claiming original ownership of the iconic ball have agreed to allow Goldin to sell it at auction.
