Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani continues to be headlined as the ball that heralded the historic 50th home run in the 2024 MLB season has sold for a record $4.4 million or approximately £3.39 million at auction. Dubbed the “50-50 ball,” it represents the feat made by Ohtani since he became the first-ever player in the history of MLB to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. This impressive record was achieved in a game between the Miami Marlins on September 19, 2024.
A mystery buyer paid a record price at an auction to snag a sports ball for $4.4 million. This is well above a previous record set way back in 1999, at the time Mark McGwire’s single-season home run record when he paid $3 million (£2.3 million) for the ball from his 1998 season.
Meanwhile, the ball falls into a judicial brawl in Florida
An 18-year-old fan named Max Matus has filed a legal claim over his first catching of Ohtani’s 50th homer. Matus said he first caught the homer but another fan was said to have wrestled the ball off his hands; Belanski according to him briefly had the ball from his hands before forcefully taking it away. Matus thus argues with Belanski that their objects of contention over rightful ownership are contentious.
The auction will continue with the legal case still in the courts, and all parties in agreement to follow through with the sale. The sale is through Goldin Auctions, who are conducting the sale. “This company assured a buyer that it would provide full ownership transfer of the ball, legally speaking, not matter what the legal cloud is over this ball,” the company said. “We received bids from around the world, a testament to the importance of this iconic collectible and Ohtani’s impact on sports,” said Ken Goldin, founder of Goldin Auctions, after the sale.
Ohtani’s Record-Breaking Contract and Global Stardom
Shohei Ohtani created history on the field, but it is off that field that he really set a milestone when he signed a record-breaking 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023. The contract stood for a whooping $700 million worth (£539.5 million), making it the biggest contract ever entered into for baseball. On-field earnings position him among the highest-paid athletes worldwide. His off-the-field earnings have leaped and are running way past Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and even LeBron James, mainly driven by endorsement and global recognition.
In a financial savvy approach, Ohtani agreed to postpone the substantial payout of his salary until after 2034 to allow the Dodgers to retain a competitive roster. In that sense, Ohtani will be pocketing approximately $1.6 million per year until 2034. The major chunk of his income that is $54 million annually will be received between 2034 to 2043.
The stardom that perpetually becoats him will reach its brightest as he prepares to lead the Dodgers against New York Yankees in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series today. Fans and collectors alike will be watching because Ohtani continues to cement his legacy as one of the greatest baseball players of all time.