Max Matus, an 18-year-old baseball enthusiast, is making waves in the sports memorabilia world as he takes legal action to prevent the auctioning of Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball. The highly sought-after ball, symbolizing Ohtani’s remarkable 50th home run of the season, is poised to kick off an intense bidding war with starting bids projected at a jaw-dropping $500,000.
Matus’s lawsuit, filed in Florida, alleges that the current holder of the historic ball, Chris Belanski, wrongfully acquired it from him during a game at loanDepot Park in Miami on September 19. The legal battle also involves Belanski’s friend, Kelvin Ramirez, with Matus claiming that the ball was forcefully taken from him by Belanski after he had firmly secured it with his left hand. The dramatic turn of events occurred while Matus was attending the game to celebrate his 18th birthday, adding a poignant twist to the unfolding saga of the disputed baseball.
Despite Matus’s efforts to halt the auction and secure the ball in a mutually agreed-upon location until a court decision is reached, Goldin Auctions, the New Jersey-based auction house overseeing the sale, is determined to proceed with the event. A Miami judge has denied Matus’s request for a temporary restraining order that would have paused the auction, allowing it to move forward as scheduled.
In response to the legal dispute, Goldin Auctions conveyed to ESPN that they plan to proceed with the auction of the coveted Ohtani 50th home run ball, citing their review of the lawsuit’s content and publicly available game footage. While the auction continues its course, the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County has granted Matus’s legal team the opportunity to present their arguments before the auction concludes on October 16, potentially paving the way for Matus to claim a portion of the proceeds from the ball’s sale.
Ken Goldin, CEO of Goldin Auctions, disclosed that Belanski reached out to them the day following Ohtani’s historic game to arrange the auction. Despite a substantial offer of $300,000 from the Los Angeles Dodgers for the ball, Belanski opted to proceed with the auction instead of accepting the team’s proposal, adding to the intrigue surrounding the unique situation.
The auction commences with a tempting “buy-it-now” price set at $4.5 million, accessible until October 9. Should bids soar to $3 million before this date, the buy-it-now option will be eliminated, prolonging the bidding process until October 16. As enthusiasts, collectors, and legal observers eagerly follow the unfolding events, Matus’s lawsuit injects a fresh layer of complexity into the riveting narrative surrounding one of the most significant sports memorabilia auctions of the year.
As the auction thrives and anticipation mounts, the fate of Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball remains shrouded in legal entanglements and spirited bidding competitions, unveiling a gripping chapter in the world of sports collectibles. Who will emerge victorious in this enthralling battle for a piece of baseball history? Follow the developments at Goldin Auctions to witness the saga’s thrilling conclusion.