By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-26 16:51:35 | Updated at 2024-09-30 19:26:05
4 days ago
Shohei Ohtani's 50/50 home run ball has been cosigned to collectibles marketplace Goldin and could sell for up to $4.5million when bidding begins on Friday.
On September 19, the Los Angeles Dodgers star became the first and only player in MLB to record 50 home runs and 50 base steals in the same season. He did so by hitting three homers and stealing three bases against the Marlins.
While speaking to ESPN, Goldin founder and CEO Ken Goldin how they managed to cosign the piece.
'This was one of the easiest [consignments] ever,' Goldin shared. 'Ohtani [hits 50] on Thursday, literally Friday we heard from the guy, he contacted Goldin on his own through social media, flew a security guard down to Miami on Monday with a representative from Goldin, met him, flew back Monday.'
Goldin added the cosigner, who chose to remain anonymous, did not contact other auction houses.
Shohei Ohtani's 50/50 home run ball could sell for up to $4.5million at an auction
The ball from Ohtani's September 16 game against the Marlins was cosigned by Goldin
'This is one of those cases where our reputation for getting the absolute highest price on hot-market items [came] into play,' Goldin said. 'Honestly, we had no competition at all.'
Fox Sports 640's Andy Slater reported that the Dodgers offered the fan who caught the ball from Ohtani's 50th home run $300,000. The team could not be reached for comment, per ESPN.
The opening bid with Goldin will start at $500,000. However, prospective buyers 'will have the chance to purchase the baseball outright for $4,500,000 exclusively between September 27 to October 9; if bidding reaches $3,000,000 before October 9 however, the option to purchase privately will no longer be available, and interested parties must compete and bid for the baseball.'
Extended bidding begins on October 16, at 10pm ET.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
It’s HERE. We got it! Presenting Shohei Ohtani’s 50th HOME RUN BASEBALL from his HISTORIC Game when he became the inaugural member of the 50/50 Club. ⚾️
This one-of-a-kind Baseball will be available in our special “Shohei Ohtani 50/50 Auction”, which Opens… pic.twitter.com/uIQviGUHdH
'My viewpoint was that the auction route as quickly as possible was the best,' Goldin said. 'It's timely; the Dodgers going to the playoffs, Ohtani is easily going to be the Most Valuable Player, let's do this while Ohtani is on everybody's mind.
'What was also very important to the consigner, is the worldwide and global reach that both Goldin and eBay have. It's certainly possible someone outside the United States is going to win this baseball.'
The current record for baseball is the $3.05m paid for Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball in 1999. The piece was bought by comic book creator McFarlane Toys empire magnate Todd McFarlane.
Goldin also cosigned Aaron Judge's AL record-breaking 62nd home run ball in late 2022. The piece sold for $1.5m after seller Cory Youmans turned down a $3m offer for the ball.
