Shohei Ohtani’s famous home run ball, which many anticipated would sell for millions, concluded its auction at just $292,800.
The ball, hit during his incredible Game 4 performance in the NLCS at Dodger Stadium in October, was auctioned off on a Wednesday night. It was initially expected to attract bids of at least $1 million, according to Ken Goldin, who listed it for auction back in December.
Owner David Flores had previously turned down a jaw-dropping offer of $2 million for the ball. It’s surprising, honestly. When he decided to auction it through Goldin, it seemed like a solid move.
Flores didn’t comment on the final sale price when asked. Post-auction, Goldin Auctions released a statement calling it “the best-selling home run baseball of 2025,” while Goldin remarked that it truly is “one of the greatest collectibles in sports.” That’s quite the endorsement.
Ohtani hit the ball in the seventh inning during a game against the Brewers, marking his third home run of the night. He also shined on the mound, pitching six scoreless innings with ten strikeouts. Quite the dual-threat performance.
Interestingly, Flores noted that Ohtani was asleep when his bat first broke. He recalled hearing the crowd cheer and, having played baseball himself, he knew the ball would come his way. “I was going for the rebound,” he explained about how he caught it.
After receiving numerous offers for the ball, Flores chose to wait, wanting to be certain he was making the right decision. “No matter what happens, I’ll be in a better place,” he mentioned, which feels like a wise mindset amidst all the chaos.
Late December, Goldin mused that the ball could potentially reach an all-time record of $4.4 million when Ohtani’s 50th home run goes up for auction in 2024, which seems a bit optimistic, but you never know.
Goldin commented, “This is a different ball,” and expressed curiosity about the potential bidding frenzy it could incite. Meanwhile, Ohtani’s second home run ball from that same game is set to be auctioned after fetching $270,000 in a previous auction.
