In a thrilling online auction, a historic home run ball hit by MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani sold for an astonishing $4.4 million. The auction, conducted by Goldin Auctions, concluded on October 22, marking a significant moment in sports memorabilia history.
Ohtani's home run, struck on September 19, made him the first player to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. The anonymous seller capitalized on this milestone, with initial bids starting at $610,000.
The auction employed a "soft" closing format, extending the bidding time by 30 minutes with each new bid, which invigorated competition. By the morning of the auction's end, the price had already surged to $2.6 million after 25 bids. In the final moments, 15 additional bids propelled the price up by another $1.8 million.
This remarkable auction price shattered the previous record for a baseball, which stood at $3.05 million for Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball in 1999. Ohtani's global appeal suggests that the buyer could be from anywhere, eager to hold a piece of baseball history.
However, the ownership of the ball remains contested, as legal disputes among fans who claimed possession are still unresolved. The outcome of these disputes will ultimately determine who receives the auction proceeds.