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We have more information regarding the fan who caught Shohei Ohtani’s home run ball.
On Thursday night, Ohtani made history when he became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and get 50 steals in a season.
After Ohtani’s 50th home run, several fans fought and scrambled for the ball.
In the best video of the struggle for the Ohtani 50th home run ball, it looks like the roughly 30-year age difference won out.
(Credit: Justin Walka) pic.twitter.com/mFl0GuXh08
— cllct (@cllctMedia) September 20, 2024
According to Cllct.com, the man who ended up with the ball reportedly ripped it out of an 18-year-old’s hands and decided to keep the ball after negotiations with Dodgers officials.
Miami-based reporter Andy Slater reported that the Dodgers had offered the fan $300k for the ball, but he turned it down.
SLATER SCOOP: LA Dodgers reps offered $300,000 to the fan who ended up with Shohei Ohtani’s 50th HR ball, multiple sources tell me.
The discussion took place after security escorted the fan away from the outfield area.
The Dodgers did not comment when asked.
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) September 20, 2024
Currently, some auction houses have the ball valued anywhere from $250k to $1 million.
Via Cllct.com
Ken Goldin of Goldin Auctions, whose company sold Aaron Judge’s American League-record 62nd home run ball for $1.5 million in 2022, estimates Ohtani’s record ball, as well as his bat, would be valued at $250,000 each.
The fact Ohtani had such an epic game means the price rises for everything, said eBay power seller Rick Probstein, who said the bat and the jersey are worth $300,000 each in his opinion.
David Kohler, president of SCP Auctions – who sold both Barry Bonds’ and Alex Rodriguez’s 500th home runs – estimates that the the ball would reach up to $500,000.Another expert placed the value on Ohtani’s 50th home-run ball even higher.
“I just think that it’s so unique and so special and there’s just so much publicity that someone’s gonna pay big big money for it,” said Harlan Werner, a longtime L.A.-based memorabilia dealer and agent. “I think that seven figures is realistic.”