Shohei Ohtani’s historic 50th home run ball sells for staggering amount ahead of his World Series debut

Just days away from his World Series debut, Shohei Ohtani’s historic 50th home run ball of the season has sold at auction for a whopping $2.3 million.

Japan’s most famous athlete became the first player in baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. He reached the milestone on September 19 when the Los Angeles Dodgers star hit his second of three home runs against the Marlins.

With 27 bids on the books, Goldin.co closed the online auction on Tuesday evening without identifying the buyer.

The auction was somewhat overshadowed by the legal situation surrounding the ball. Christian Zacek walked out of LoanDepot Park in Miami with the ball after gaining possession in the left field bleachers. Max Matus and Joseph Davidov each claim in separate lawsuits that they grabbed the ball first.

Zacek was identified in initial court filings as Chris Belanski. Matus’ updated lawsuit — obtained Friday by The Associated Press — changes the defendant’s name to Zacek and removes Goldin Auctions as a defendant.

Ohtani became the first player in baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season on September 19, when he hit his second of three home runs against the Marlins

Footage has emerged of desperate baseball fans searching for Shohei Ohtani’s home run ball

“The contract with Goldin to sell the ball is with Christian Zacek,” Matus’ lawyer John Uustal said in a statement. “It’s apparently the same person at the ballpark, who may have been listed as Belanski at the stadium.

‘He has been difficult to identify and track down even a few days after the match. But either way, the court now has control over the auction proceeds, and our lawsuit is against Zacek, who signed the contract with Goldin.”

All parties involved in the lawsuit agree that the auction should go ahead.

“This agreement provides prospective purchasers with the assurance that the historic 50/50 baseball will be sold free of charge and free from any legal claim against the baseball against the prospective purchaser,” Zacek’s attorneys said in a statement. “We believe this agreement reflects the recognition by all parties of this monumental achievement and will ensure that the full value of this historic 50/50 baseball will be fully recognized at auction.”

Matus’ lawsuit claims the Florida native — who was celebrating his 18th birthday — gained possession of the Ohtani ball before Zacek took it away. Davidov claims in his lawsuit that he was able to “grasp the ball firmly and completely with his left hand while it was on the ground, successfully gaining possession of the 50/50 ball.”

Davidov is seeking damages of more than $50,000.