The Shohei Ohtani 50-50 home run ball belongs to a fan who's wisely not giving it back ... yet
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani made history once again and the home run ball that accomplished the feat is now extremely valuable.
Ohtani, who became the first player in MLB history to ever record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season, crushed three hits out of the park in the same game to notch the milestone. The second home run, his 50th, was most coveted by fans in the stands.
While one individual missed grabbing the ball by merely inches, the very sad misfortune for him created the luckiest day imaginable for another person at the game.
The fan who caught Shohei Ohtani’s 50th Home Run baseball has opted to walk away with it. Dodgers did not get it back.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) September 20, 2024
According to MLB reporter Craig Mish, the fan who caught the ball decided to “walk away” with this unique memento. He also “agreed to a discussion” so he is at least apparently open to whatever is offered, though he was later ushered out by security.
Considering that nearly every single piece of gear Ohtani wore during the big moment is now a part of baseball history, the ball was obviously the one with the most demand.
Surely both the Dodgers and the MLB will want to obtain the ball from this fan. So, too, may Ohtani himself. But after the drama that surrounded getting Ohtani’s first home run ball with the Dodgers earlier this season, the fan who caught this one looks smart right now.
This ball was covertly pre-authenticated via hologram so the league has no leverage over the fan. It is undeniably the one that Ohtani hit, which means it can get sold without anyone worrying that it is a dupe.
It is potentially worth between $250,000 and $500,000 but could even fetch as much as seven figures depending on what the market looks like.
Perhaps the fan puts the ball up for auction, maybe Ohtani or the Dodgers buy it directly, or potentially the fan gets to keep it as the ultimate souvenir.
Either way, if they play it right, their life has changed because they caught this ball.