Shohei Ohtani, who achieved 50 home runs and 50 steals for the first time in Major League history, and the historic home run ball that confirmed this record will be on the auction market.
“ESPN” said Ohtani’s 50th home run ball of the season was auctioned on the 26th (Korea Standard Time). 스포츠토토
Ohtani hit three home runs and two stolen bases in an away game against the Miami Marlins on Sept. 20 to achieve 50-50 on the road. In particular, his home run in the top of the seventh inning was his 50th home run of the season.
The fan who caught the ball refused to return it to the club and left the stadium.
According to FOX Sports 640, the Dodgers offered $300,000 to the fan who picked up the home run ball, but the fan rejected the offer and left the stadium.
Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of Goldin, an auction house, said, “It was the easiest process ever. A day after Ohtani hit his 50th homer, the person who caught the ball contacted me.”
The person who picked up the 50th home run ball has not revealed his real name so far. Goldin said he did not discuss it with other auction houses.
The auction starts at $500,000. Bidding begins on September 27 local time.
If you offer $4.5 million by October 9, you can purchase the ball right away. However, if the bid price exceeds $3 million, the closed purchase option will disappear and only purchases through bidding will be possible.
Goldin said, “I think it’s best to start the auction as soon as possible. It’s a timely situation. The Dodgers will go to the postseason and Ohtani will be the MVP. We have to proceed when Ohtani is in everyone’s mind. What’s very important to the consignor is that we can reach the world with eBay. Someone outside of the U.S. can take the ball,” explaining that someone outside of the U.S. can be the owner of the ball.
The most expensive baseball ever sold at auction was Mark McGwire’s 70th homerun of the season in 1999 for $3.05 million. It was purchased by comic book writer and toy company CEO Todd McFarlane. He is also known to have Barry Bonds’ 73rd homerun in 2001 and Sammy Sosa’s 66th homerun in 1999.
Goldin previously held Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run auction, the most home run in a single American League season in 2022. It was sold for $1.5 million at the time. It was about half of the price the club offered, but it is still the second-highest amount in baseball auction history.