LOS ANGELES.- The 50th home run ball Shohei Ohtani It sold at auction for almost $4.4 million. This represents a record not only for baseball, but for any sport, the auctioneer confirmed Wednesday.
Ohtani became the first player in history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season and achieved that mark on September 19 when the Los Angeles star Los Angeles Dodgers He hit the second of three home runs against the Marlins.
“We received bids from all over the world, a testament to the significance of this iconic collectible and Ohtani’s impact on the sport, and I am thrilled for the winner,” Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of the house, said in a statement. Goldin Auctions betting shop.
The auction began on September 27 for $500,000 and closed shortly before midnight on Wednesday. The auctioneer indicated that he could not provide information about the winner.
Not everything is rosy
But the auction has been overshadowed by litigation over ownership of the ball. Christian Zacek left Miami’s LoanDepot Park with the ball after receiving it in the stands in left field. However, in separate lawsuits, Max Matus and Joseph Davidov claim they had possession of the ball earlier.
Those involved in the litigation agreed that the auction should continue.
Matus’ lawsuit claims the Florida resident — who was celebrating his 18th birthday — had possession of the ball before Zacek took it from him. Davidov says in his lawsuit that he was able to “firmly and completely take possession of the ball with his left hand while it was on the ground, thereby obtaining 50/50 possession of the ball.”
Ohtani and the Dodgers prepare for the first game of the World Series that begins Friday.
