Shohei Ohtani's historic 50th home run ball sells for staggering amount ahead of his World Series debut

Just days distant from his World Series debut, Shohei Ohtani's historical 50th location tally shot of the play has been sold astatine auction for a whopping $2.3 million.

Japan's astir celebrated jock became the archetypal subordinate successful shot past to deed 50 homers and bargain 50 bases successful a season, reaching the milestone connected September 19 erstwhile the Los Angeles Dodgers prima deed his 2nd of 3 homers against the Marlins.

With 27 bids connected the books, Goldin.co closed the online auction connected Tuesday nighttime without identifying the buyer.

The auction has been somewhat overshadowed by the ineligible concern surrounding the ball. Christian Zacek walked retired of Miami's LoanDepot Park with the shot aft gaining possession successful the left-field stands. Max Matus and Joseph Davidov each assertion successful abstracted lawsuits that they grabbed the shot first.

Zacek was identified arsenic Chris Belanski successful the archetypal lawsuits. Matus' updated suit — obtained by The Associated Press connected Friday — changes the defendant's sanction to Zacek and removes Goldin Auctions arsenic a defendant.

'The declaration with Goldin to merchantability the shot is with Christian Zacek,' Matus' lawyer John Uustal said successful a statement. 'It is seemingly the aforesaid idiosyncratic astatine the ballpark, who whitethorn person been listed arsenic Belanski astatine the stadium.

'He has been hard to place and way down astatine slightest since a fewer days aft the game. But regardless, the tribunal present has power implicit the proceeds of the auction, and our suit is against Zacek who signed the declaration with Goldin.'

All the parties progressive successful the litigation person agreed the auction should continue.

'This statement provides certainty to imaginable buyers that the historical 50/50 shot volition beryllium sold escaped and wide of immoderate ineligible claims to the shot against the aboriginal buyer,' Zacek's attorneys said successful a statement. 'We judge that this statement reflects each parties' designation of this monumental accomplishment and volition let the afloat worth of this historical 50/50 shot to beryllium afloat recognized astatine the auction.'

Matus' suit claims that the Florida nonmigratory — who was celebrating his 18th day — gained possession of the Ohtani shot earlier Zacek took it away. Davidov claims successful his suit that helium was capable to 'firmly and wholly drawback the shot successful his near manus portion it was connected the ground, successfully obtaining possession of the 50/50 ball.'

Davidov is seeking much than $50,000 successful damages.