MIAMI (AP) — A legal dispute in Florida has temporarily halted the auction of Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball after a man claimed it was stolen from him just moments after he caught it.
The ball, which represents a significant moment in baseball history, was reportedly caught by Max Matus on September 19, coinciding with his 18th birthday. Matus’ representatives state that shortly after he secured the ball, it was taken from him by Chris Belanski. Since then, the ball has been submitted to Goldin Auctions, an auction house located in New Jersey that specializes in trading cards, collectibles, and sports memorabilia.
In an emergency hearing held on Thursday, a Miami-Dade County judge addressed Matus’ request for a temporary injunction. While the auction can commence, the judge specified that Goldin Auctions “will not sell, conceal, or transfer” the ball until a court ruling is made. An evidentiary hearing has been scheduled for October 10 to discuss the issues further.
Matus is seeking a court order to affirm his ownership of the ball and has asked for a jury trial to settle the matter. Additionally, he has accused Belanski of unlawful battery during the incident. Another individual, Kelvin Ramirez, is also named in the lawsuit as he claims to have ownership of the ball and attended the game with Belanski. Both Belanski and Ramirez are included in the lawsuit filed by Matus’ attorney, John Uustal.
Ohtani’s remarkable achievement of hitting his 50th home run against the Miami Marlins this season also includes him obtaining 50 stolen bases, making him the first player to join the exclusive 50-50 club. The opening bid for the historic ball is set at $500,000 and features noticeable black scuff marks and abrasions. Major League Baseball has authenticated it as genuine.
Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of Goldin Auctions, remarked, “Ohtani is truly one-of-a-kind, and the 50-50 record may be his crowning achievement. This is a piece of baseball history that fans and historians around the world will remember for decades to come.”
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