Goldin, the premier sports auction house, recently announced that the ball used by Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani for his 50th home run this season has fetched an eye-popping $4,392,000 at auction. This sale marks the highest price ever paid for a ball in any sport’s history.
Last month, during a Major League Baseball (MLB) game where the Los Angeles Dodgers triumphed 20-4 over the Miami Marlins, Ohtani made history by becoming the first player to achieve a remarkable 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, effectively joining the exclusive 50-50 club. His extraordinary performance also propelled the Dodgers into the playoffs, marking Ohtani’s first postseason appearance in his professional career.
Under Ohtani’s leadership, the Dodgers have clinched the National League Championship for the first time in three seasons, and they are now set to face off against the American League champions, the New York Yankees, in the World Series.
Born in 1994 in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, Ohtani has made a name for himself as one of the rare two-way stars in baseball, excelling both as a pitcher and as a hitter. He rose to prominence during his high school years, becoming a sought-after player in Japan’s baseball scene.
In 2018, Ohtani made the leap to MLB with the Los Angeles Angels, winning the Rookie of the Year award in his debut season. Over the following years, he blossomed into a superstar, earning the American League MVP title twice in 2021 and 2023. He made history as the first Asian player to win the MVP award twice, and also as the first player ever to receive unanimous MVP votes on both occasions.
At the end of the 2023 season, Ohtani announced his transfer to the Los Angeles Dodgers with a staggering ten-year contract valued at $700 million. This deal not only set a new record in MLB history but also broke the all-time contract record across North America’s four major professional sports leagues. Japanese media have called it “the highest contract in the history of world sports,” while MLB has dubbed it “the most significant signing ever.”
Despite not pitching this season due to injury, Ohtani continues to make headlines. As the World Series approaches on October 26, fans eagerly anticipate his contribution as the Dodgers aim for their eighth championship title.
