Shohei Ohtani has made history in Major League Baseball by hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in a single season, a feat unmatched in over 120 years. This remarkable achievement has turned one specific baseball into a potential multimillion-dollar treasure for a lucky fan.
The baseball that Ohtani launched for his 50th home run on September 19 is now up for auction, with Goldin Auctions labeling it as "one of the most significant pieces of modern baseball memorabilia to come to auction." The starting bid is set at $500,000.
The auction runs from September 27 to October 9, with extended bidding on October 16. The ball, which shows signs of game use including black scuffing and abrasions, is described as a unique specimen, ideal for any serious collector.
For those eager to bypass the bidding war, there's an option to purchase the ball outright for $4.5 million. However, this opportunity vanishes if bids exceed $3 million, a threshold representing the highest price ever paid for a baseball, which was set in 1999 for Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball.
Even if the auction price is out of reach, fans can still celebrate Ohtani's legacy through a new trading card deal with Topps, featuring autographed and game-used memorabilia cards.