Shohei Ohtani, the baseball sensation fresh off a World Series triumph and a stellar MLB season, is now embroiled in a legal battle to reclaim his prized possession: a collection of baseball cards valued at $325,000. These cards were allegedly purchased using ill-gotten funds by Ohtani’s former interpreter and close ally, Ippei Mizuhara. The saga of deceit and fraud has now brought Ohtani to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
The backdrop to this high-stakes legal drama involves Mizuhara’s admission of guilt in June to committing bank and tax fraud, with Ohtani being the primary victim. During the first quarter of 2024, Mizuhara reportedly siphoned off millions from Ohtani’s bank account to buy baseball cards from online platforms like eBay and Whatnot, all in hopes of turning a profit. Ohtani now asserts that the cards seized by the authorities rightfully belong to him, as they were paid for with his money.
In a peculiar twist to the tale, Ohtani disclosed to the court that a set of personally autographed baseball cards featuring his likeness was among the items mistakenly confiscated from Mizuhara’s possession. Therefore, he has included a request in his petition for the return of these personalized collectibles.
The inventory of the seized items detailed in court documents includes various collectible sports cards stashed in silver and black Panoply cases, as well as gray cases, in addition to a box holding more cards. Among the haul were also a card wrapping device and plastic card protector holders, all part of Mizuhara’s ill-gotten gains.
Mizuhara’s downfall came about due to his unauthorized access to Ohtani’s financial accounts, which eventually led to his dismissal from the Dodgers in March once his fraudulent activities came to light. Originally scheduled for sentencing on two separate occasions – October 25 and later December 20 – Mizuhara’s fate has now been deferred yet again to January 24, prolonging the resolution of this ongoing saga.
Looking ahead, a crucial hearing is slated for December 20 where the court will deliberate on Ohtani’s bid to reclaim ownership of the confiscated sports cards. This legal maneuver underscores the aftermath of Mizuhara’s breach of trust against one of baseball’s brightest luminaries, adding another chapter to this gripping saga of betrayal and deception.