Historic '50-50' Baseball Auctioned for £3.39m, Sparking Legal Dispute

The ball hit by Shohei Ohtani during his historic 50-50 season sold for an astounding £3.39m at auction, marking a new record for sports memorabilia. However, a legal dispute looms as two fans claim ownership, adding complexity to this remarkable sports moment.

The baseball struck by Los Angeles Dodgers icon Shohei Ohtani, marking his 50th home run of the 2024 Major League Baseball season, has fetched a staggering £3.39m ($4.4m) at auction. This achievement makes Ohtani the first player in MLB history to both hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season, an accomplishment reached during a game against the Miami Marlins on September 19.

The record amount paid for the '50-50 ball' surpasses the previous auction record of £2.3m ($3m) which was set in 1999 for a baseball hit by Mark McGwire. However, the ownership of the baseball is currently contested in a Florida lawsuit. An 18-year-old named Max Matus claims he initially caught the ball before another fan, Chris Belanski, allegedly took it from him amid a struggle.

Despite the legal dispute, all involved parties consented to proceed with the auction. Ken Goldin, founder of Goldin Auctions, expressed enthusiasm about the massive interest from bidders worldwide, highlighting Ohtani's incredible impact on the sport as a reason for the ball's significance.

In addition to his on-field achievements, Ohtani's financial status is noteworthy. The Japanese superstar inked a 10-year, £539.5m ($700m) contract with the Dodgers in 2023, becoming the highest-paid player in baseball history. While his on-field earnings make him one of the top-paid athletes, Ohtani has deferred a significant portion of his salary to allow the Dodgers to build a competitive team.

As anticipation builds, Ohtani and the Dodgers prepare to face the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series, where fans will be eager to see how this remarkable player continues to make history on and off the field.