Ohtani’s 50-50 Home Run Ball Up for Auction
Goldin, a collectibles store, has announced that the home run ball from Shohei Ohtani’s historic 50-50 feat will be auctioned. The Japanese superstar became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Goldin said the initial bidding for the ball will start at $500,000, with a private sale option set at $4.5 million. This private sale window will run from September 27 to October 9, just a week before the auction officially kicks off. The store provided details to ensure the authenticity of the ball and even posted a video showcasing its condition.
“The baseball shows clear signs of game use, with black scuff marks and surface wear visible across the white leather. The panel below the 'Official Major League Baseball' stamp features a worn MLB batter logo with the notations ‘U’ and ‘3’ written in pencil above and below the logo, respectively,” the statement reads.
Goldin also added that “the baseball comes with an MLB hologram, certifying its authenticity as the very ball that marked history when Shohei Ohtani joined the 50-50 club with his 50th home run of the 2024 season.”
The fan who snagged the ball, who wishes to remain anonymous, caught it on September 19 when Ohtani launched it over the left-field wall at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins.
After catching Ohtani’s 50th home run, hit off Marlins reliever Mike Baumann, the fan was reportedly contacted by the Los Angeles Dodgers but turned down negotiations with the team. If the ball does sell for $4.5 million in a private deal, it would become the most expensive ball in MLB history, surpassing the $3.05 million paid by a fan for Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball from his 1998 season.
Goldin has had success auctioning off significant home run balls in the past, including fetching $1.5 million for Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run ball, which set the American League single-season record.
Since that historic September 19 game, Ohtani hasn’t slowed down, extending his stats to 53 home runs and 55 stolen bases.