The baseball from Shohei Ohtani’s historic home run has become the center of attention not only for its estimated value of $1.8 million but also for the intense legal battle surrounding its ownership. Ohtani, the star player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made history as the first player in Major League Baseball (MLB) to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, making this baseball a highly coveted asset.
Dramatic Auction
The baseball that Ohtani used for his 50th home run was caught by Christian Zacek from the left-field bleachers at LoanDepot Park on September 19. Zacek decided to auction off the ball through Goldin Auctions, and the current bid has reached $1.8 million. However, the auction took a complicated turn when two others, Max Matus and Joseph Davidov, filed lawsuits claiming they also have a right to the baseball.
Legal Claims Stirring Tension
Max Matus, 18, from Florida, asserts that he caught the ball before Zacek had the chance. Meanwhile, Joseph Davidov claims he “secured the ball firmly and completely with his left hand while it was still on the ground.” Davidov is seeking over $50,000 in damages and wishes to be recognized as the rightful owner of the baseball. In the court proceedings, there was initial confusion regarding the defendant, which was incorrectly identified as Chris Belanski but later corrected to Zacek. Matus’s attorney argued that Zacek is the one who signed the auction agreement with Goldin Auctions.
Current Situation and Future Prospects
The court has decided that the auction will continue as planned until October 22 to protect the rights of potential buyers. Zacek’s attorney stated, “This agreement assures prospective buyers that the historic 50-50 baseball will be sold without any future legal claims.”
Although the bidding for Ohtani’s baseball stands at $1.8 million, the buyer will have to pay nearly $2.2 million when including fees. This legal battle over the million-dollar baseball has become a hot topic within the sports community and among MLB followers, drawing significant attention in light of the record Ohtani has set.
