A legal battle in South Florida has put a temporary halt to the auction of Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball. The ball, which marked Ohtani’s historic achievement of 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a single season, was initially in the possession of Max Matus on his 18th birthday. However, Chris Belanski and Kelvin Ramirez are also claiming ownership of the ball, leading to a lawsuit filed by Matus’ representatives.
The Miami-Dade County judge has scheduled an evidentiary hearing for October 10 to determine the rightful owner of the ball. In the meantime, the ball has been handed over to Goldin Auctions, where it is set to go up for auction with an opening bid of $500,000. The ball, authenticated by Major League Baseball, shows signs of wear and tear from the game in which Ohtani achieved this milestone.
Ken Goldin, the founder and CEO of the auction house, has emphasized the historical significance of Ohtani’s record and the ball itself. He believes that this piece of baseball history will be remembered by fans and historians for years to come. Despite the legal dispute surrounding its ownership, the ball is poised to attract significant attention from collectors and baseball enthusiasts.
The lawsuit filed by Matus’ attorney alleges unlawful battery against Belanski and seeks a court order declaring Matus as the rightful owner of the ball. While the legal proceedings unfold, the anticipation for the auction of Ohtani’s 50th home run ball continues to build. The outcome of the case will determine who ultimately possesses this valuable piece of baseball memorabilia and the story behind its acquisition.
