Shohei Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to reach 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, achieving the record on Sept. 19, 2024 with a three-homer game for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Miami Marlins.
The ball from Ohtani’s 50th home run was placed up for auction on Goldin, an internationally-renowned collectibles marketplace known for rare and record-breaking sports memorabilia sales.
The auction officially closed on Oct. 23 at 9:26 p.m. PT, with the final price of the iconic piece of sports memorabilia reaching $4,392,000 million, making it the highest sale price for a baseball – and for any ball in any sport – ever sold.
“Shohei Ohtani made history with this baseball, and now, with the highest sale price for any ball ever sold, this legendary piece of sports memorabilia has made history again,” Goldin founder and CEO Ken Goldin said of the sale.
“We received bids from around the world, a testament to the significance of this iconic collectible and Ohtani’s impact on sports, and I’m thrilled for the winning bidder.”
The 50/50 baseball shows notable game use, with black scuff marks and surface abrasions visible on the leather.
In addition to the “Official Major League Baseball” stamping, it includes the pencil annotations “4” and “3” as identifiers, and an MLB Authenticated Hologram. This history-defining ball not only signifies a career milestone for Shohei Ohtani but also contributes to the legacy of the sport.
The Goldin auction for the Ohtani 50/50 baseball opened at 9 a.m. PT on Sept. 27, with a starting bid of $500,000. Within the first three weeks, the baseball surpassed the $1.5 million sale of Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run ball, which held the record as the second highest value baseball ever sold, a sale made by Goldin in December 2022.
The Ohtani 50/50 baseball has become the most viewed listing, and the highest priced item sold via auction, in Goldin’s’ history.
Goldin selling additional Shohei Ohtani memorabilia
For Ohtani fans and baseball collectors, Goldin has additional coveted items currently up for auction in the October Legends Elite Auction, including 51st home run ball – which he hit the same night he became the founding member of the 50/50 club – along with Ohtani’s MLB debut game ball and a 2018 Bowman chrome signed rookie card.
Extended bidding for these items begins on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. PT.
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