Ohtani’s home run against the Miami Marlins on September 19 marked his 50th home run and 50th stolen base of the season. A Florida man’s complaint has temporarily halted the sale of Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball at auction, claiming it was taken from him moments after he obtained it.
Max Matus’ attorneys claim their client obtained hold of the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s historic ball on September 19 – the man’s 18th birthday — before Chris Belanski took it away. The ball was subsequently passed to Goldin Auctions, a New Jersey-based auction business dealing in trading cards, collectibles, and memorabilia. In an emergency hearing on Thursday, the Miami-Dade County court delayed the motion for a temporary injunction and scheduled an evidentiary hearing for October 10. The decree states that the auction can begin, but the home “will not sell, conceal, or transfer” the ball pending the court’s decision.
Matus’ initial filing sought a court order proclaiming him entitled to the ball and asking for a jury trial on his claims. In addition, it accused Belanski of unlawful battery. Kelvin Ramirez is also named in the complaint, claiming possession of the ball. Ramirez attended the game alongside Belanski. The lawsuit filed by Matus’ attorney, John Uustal, names Goldin Auctions, Belanski, and Ramirez. With his home run against the Miami Marlins, Ohtani became the first 50-50 club member, having hit 50 home runs and stolen 50 bases in the same season.
The initial bid for the ball is $500,000. The white leather ball, which Major League Baseball verified, shows black scuffing and abrasions. “Ohtani is truly one-of-a-kind, and the 50-50 record may be his crowning achievement,” said the auction house’s founder and CEO Ken Goldin. “This is a piece of baseball history that fans and historians worldwide will remember for decades to come.”
