An 18-year-old has filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of the historic baseball used by Shohei Ohtani when he made history as the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season.
The ball, caught during a game against the Miami Marlins on September 19, is currently up for auction by Goldin, with bids starting at $500,000 and a buyout price of $4.5 million. The auction is set to conclude on October 16.
Max Matus, the plaintiff, alleges that he caught the ball on his 18th birthday but was quickly deprived of it by Chris Belanski, who, along with two others, is named in the lawsuit. Matus claims Belanski forcibly took the ball from him with the help of security.
The lawsuit includes video evidence purportedly showing Belanski seizing the ball from Matus. Matus's attorney argues that the law protects fans from such actions, stating, 'Once someone has the ball, it's not legal for someone to take it.'
Matus contends that selling the ball would cause him irreparable harm, as it is a unique item he believes cannot be replaced. This case echoes the infamous dispute over Barry Bonds' 73rd home run ball in 2001, which also involved contested ownership.
The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for future disputes over baseball memorabilia, highlighting the complexities of ownership in high-stakes sports events.