Shohei Ohtani of the LA Dodgers has set another major record in Major League Baseball (MLB), and his 50th home run ball has been auctioned.
According to an ESPN report, Ohtani’s 50th home run ball has been consigned to the auction house Goldin.
On September 20, Ohtani achieved a historic milestone by recording his 50th home run and 50th stolen base in a game against the Miami Marlins. In this game, Ohtani recorded three home runs and two stolen bases. He is the first MLB player to reach the 50-50 milestone in a single season.
Now, the ball that marked this historic moment is up for auction. The auction will begin on September 27, with a minimum bid set at $500,000. However, it can be immediately secured for $4.5 million without competition.
Ohtani hit this home run in the seventh inning. The ball flew over the left field fence and landed in the stands. Several fans lunged for the ball, and ultimately, one man managed to grab it after it rolled under a table. Following this, the man left the stands under the guidance of the team officials.
The LA Dodgers offered the man a reward of $300,000 for the ball, but he reportedly declined the offer. The auction for Ohtani’s 50th home run ball is now drawing significant attention to see how much it will sell for.
The record for the highest auction price for a home run ball is held by Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball from 1998, which sold for $3,054,000. In 2022, Aaron Judge’s (New York Yankees) 62nd home run ball also fetched $1.5 million.
Meanwhile, the home run race between Ohtani and Aaron Judge is heating up.
On Wednesday, Aaron Judge hit his 56th home run of the season against the Baltimore Orioles, while Ohtani did not hit a home run in a game against the San Diego Padres, widening the gap between them to three.
Aaron Judge aims to surpass 60 home runs for the first time in two years, while Ohtani is challenging his own record by aiming for a 55-55 season. Ohtani has hit nine home runs this month alone, continuing to chase Judge.
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