The ball with which Los Angeles Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani created 50/50 club has sold for a record $4.392 million.
Ohtani hit his 50th home run of the 2024 season on September 19, making him the first player in MLB history to have at least 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a single season. The 50th home run ball was caught by a fan who decided to keep it and sell it at an auction conducted by auction house Goldin.
Ohtani’s 50/50 ball is now the most expensive sports ball ever. The previous record was held by Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball, which sold for $3 million in 1999.
“Shohei Ohtani made history with this baseball, and now, with the highest sale price for any ball ever sold, this legendary piece of sports memorabilia has made history again,” Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of Goldin, said in a statement.
While Ohtani’s 50/50 ball will now find its way to the new owner, the seller won’t get his money for the time being.
The fan who exited the ball and placed it for auction is the subject of a lawsuit from two other fans who say they caught the ball first before it was taken away from them. The court has allowed the auction to go through after all three fans agreed to it, but the money will remain in a bank account until the lawsuit is settled.
