MIAMI (AP) — The race to claim Shohei Ohtani’s historic 50th home run ball has taken a new twist, as another fan, Joseph Davidov, has filed a lawsuit asserting he had possession of the ball. This claim complicates matters significantly, particularly in light of the ongoing legal battles surrounding this valuable piece of baseball memorabilia.
Davidov’s lawsuit was officially filed in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court and names Chris Belanski, Kelvin Ramirez, Max Matus, and Goldin Auctions as defendants. Belanski is the individual who left the stadium with the ball, while Matus — who initiated the first lawsuit last week — and Ramirez also assert ownership of the baseball.
Ohtani made history by becoming the first player ever to achieve the remarkable feat of hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in a single season, a milestone he reached on September 19 with a homer during a game against the Miami Marlins. As of now, bidding for the ball through Goldin Auctions stands at an astounding $1.464 million.
Due to a ruling tied to Matus’ lawsuit, the baseball cannot be sold until a hearing set for October 10, which adds a layer of complexity to the bidding process.
In his lawsuit, Davidov claims he “firmly and completely grabbed the ball in his left hand while it was on the ground, successfully obtaining possession.” However, he alleges that an unidentified fan leaped over the railing and attacked him, causing him to lose grip on the ball, which eventually ended up in Belanski’s hands.
Davidov is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 as a result of this incident. Meanwhile, Matus’s lawsuit argues that he, a Florida resident celebrating his 18th birthday at the game, had possession of the Ohtani ball before Belanski intervened. Matus’s attorney plans to present video footage at the upcoming hearing, showcasing the chaotic scramble for the ball among fans.
The first lawsuit states, “Max successfully grabbed the 50/50 ball in his left hand and intended to keep it.” Unfortunately for Matus, shortly thereafter, defendant Belanski — described as a muscular older man — allegedly trapped Matus’s arm between his legs and forcibly took the ball out of Max’s grasp.
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