Ohtani's Historic 50-50 Baseball Auction Sets New Record

Shohei Ohtani's game-changing 50th home run baseball sold for a staggering £3.39m at auction, breaking previous records and awaiting clarification on ownership rights.

The ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani when he achieved the historic feat of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single MLB season has been sold at auction for an unprecedented £3.39 million ($4.4 million). This monumental achievement took place during a game against the Miami Marlins on September 19, making Ohtani the first player in MLB history to reach this milestone within one season.

The staggering amount paid for the ball now marks it as the most valuable sports ball ever sold at auction. The previous record was held by a baseball from 1999, when Mark McGwire’s famous record-breaking ball fetched £2.3 million ($3 million). However, the ownership of Ohtani's remarkable "50-50 ball" is currently under dispute and is the subject of a ongoing lawsuit in Florida.

Eighteen-year-old Max Matus claims he initially caught the ball before another fan, Chris Belanski, allegedly seized it from him in a physical scuffle. Despite these legal challenges, all parties involved consented to proceed with the auction, and Ken Goldin, founder of Goldin Auctions, confirmed that the winning bidder had been given full assurance of the ball's transfer to their possession.

Ohtani, who signed a record-breaking 10-year contract with the Dodgers valued at £539.5 million ($700 million) in 2023, has become the highest-paid player in the sport. This makes him one of the most commercially lucrative athletes, surpassing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and LeBron James. The deal stipulates that Ohtani will earn roughly £1.6 million annually until 2034, increasing significantly from 2043 onwards. Ohtani and the Dodgers are set to face off against the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series this Friday, further solidifying his impact on the sport.