Janice R. Andrews
Shohei Ohtani’s groundbreaking 50-50 season has sparked a contentious auction for his 50th home run ball, complicated by an ownership dispute. The Los Angeles Angels phenom made history as the first MLB player to achieve both 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.
Goldin Auctions listed the ball, hit against the Miami Marlins on September 19, with a starting bid of $500,000. Bids have since surpassed $1 million, reflecting the item’s significance in baseball lore.
However, the auction faces a legal challenge from Max Matus, who claims he initially caught the ball at the stadium before another fan allegedly took it from him. Matus has filed a lawsuit in Florida, seeking to halt the auction pending resolution of the ownership dispute. A court hearing is scheduled for October 10, though Goldin Auctions maintains that the legal proceedings won’t affect the ongoing sale.
The controversy surrounding the ball’s ownership has done little to dampen enthusiasm for this piece of baseball history, as collectors vie for a tangible connection to Ohtani’s unprecedented feat.
