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Shohei Ohtani’s historic 50th home run of the season for the Los Angeles Dodgers is one of the most valuable baseballs in history.
David Kohler, president of SCP Auctions, told TMZ Sports the ball would likely sell for around $500,000 if it were to be made available at auction.
Ohtani became the first player in MLB history with 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season in the Dodgers’ 20-4 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday. He hit his 50th homer in the seventh inning off Marlins reliever Mike Baumann.
While the fan who caught the ball has yet to be identified, Darren Rovell and Will Stern of CLLCT.com noted the person is believed to be a man in his 50s.
Craig Mish of the Miami Herald added the fan elected to keep the ball even though the Dodgers made an attempt to negotiate a deal to get it for Ohtani.
Craig Mish @CraigMish
The fan who caught Shohei Ohtani’s 50th Home Run baseball has opted to walk away with it. Dodgers did not get it back.
TMZ noted there’s no word yet on whether or not the fan intends to sell the ball.
The two-run blast came as part of a 6-for-6 day in which Ohtani hit three homers, two doubles, stole two bases and drove in 10 runs. His home run total now sits at an NL-high 51 with nine games remaining in the regular season.
Ohtani is just the seventh player in MLB history to record at least 17 total bases in a single game.
Jeff Passan @JeffPassan
Here is the entire list of players before today with 17 total bases in a game. Shohei Ohtani is the first to do it without hitting four home runs. He is the only one to steal a base (he swiped two).
On the day he went 50/50, Ohtani had one of the greatest games in MLB history. pic.twitter.com/XSj8APy2EP
There have been six baseballs in history that have sold for auction with a price tag of at least $500,000. The most recent one was Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run from the 2022 season that went for $1.5 million.
Other balls on the list include Mark McGwire’s 70th homer in 1998 ($3 million), Babe Ruth’s homer in the first MLB All-Star Game in 1933 ($805,000), Barry Bonds’ 756th career homer ($752,000) and 73rd homer of the 2001 season ($518,000), and Hank Aaron’s 755th career homer ($650,000).
