Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking 50-50 ball is being auctioned – and can be purchased for $4.5 million

CNN
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The ball that made Shohei Ohtani a founding member of the 50-50 Club and put him (once again) firmly in the history books is for sale – and could be yours for a mere $4.5 million.

On September 19, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar did something no player had ever done before: He hit his 50th home run of the season and stole his 50th base in one of the best hitting performances of all time against the Miami Marlins. The game was the first three-home run game and the first 10 RBIs of Ohtani’s career.

The Dodgers dominated Miami 20-4 in that game to secure a playoff spot – Ohtani’s first postseason appearance after missing each of his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.

The ball from play is now being auctioned. Bidding starts at $500,000, but enthusiastic collectors can purchase it privately for $4.5 million.

The auction begins on September 27 at 12:00 p.m. ET and ends on October 16. However, any potential private buyer of the baseball has until October 9 at 10:00 p.m. ET to pay the $4.5 million, after which the ball will be offered exclusively for auction.

If the ball were sold at private purchase price, it would break the previous record for a baseball, paid for Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball of $3.005 million in January 1999.

Described by auctioneer Goldin as “the crowning glory of any game memorabilia collection,” the baseball features “black scratches and surface abrasions throughout the white leather surface.”

The auctioneers stated in the listing: “This success is a testament not only to Ohtani’s dominance on a national level, but also to his unprecedented fame on an international level.”

They added: “In fact, Ohtani’s achievement is not unique to him; it spans countries and continents, time zones and languages.”

Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of Goldin, told ESPN it was “one of the easiest (shows) ever.”

“Ohtani (turns 50) on Thursday, literally Friday, we heard from the guy, he contacted Goldin on his own through social media, flew to Miami on Monday with a security guard and a representative of Goldin, met with him and flew back on Monday,” Goldin added.

Two-time AL MVP Ohtani is the first and only member of the impressive 50-50 club – but some fans hope he could make it to 60-60.

This is “very unrealistic,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “But with him, anything is possible.”

“But that’s certainly very unrealistic. It’s just, man, what a great season,” Roberts said in a pre-game press conference.

Ohtani has since extended his mark to 53 home runs and 56 stolen bases with four regular season games remaining.

The closest to the 50-50 mark were Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves, who stole 73 bases and hit 41 home runs in 2023, and Alex Rodriguez, who hit 42 home runs and stole 46 bases for the Seattle Mariners in 1998.