A lawsuit has been filed in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court by 18-year-old Max Matus, who claims to be the rightful owner of the historic baseball Shohei Ohtani used to make history by becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
The baseball, which was hit by Ohtani during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ dominant 20-4 win over the Miami Marlins on September 19, was initially put up for auction by Goldin Auctions. The ball has been estimated to fetch up to $4.5 million through private sale or at auction, with bidding set to begin Friday and close on October 16.
Matus, who attended the game for his 18th birthday, is seeking a temporary injunction to block the sale of the ball. In his lawsuit, Matus claims he caught the ball during the game, but moments later, Christian Zacek, a named defendant in the suit, forcibly removed the ball from Matus’ grasp. The lawsuit describes how Zacek allegedly trapped Matus’ arm and wrestled the ball away before being escorted out of the stands by security.
According to Matus, Zacek’s actions were not only unlawful but intentional. The lawsuit includes video footage allegedly showing Zacek pulling the ball from Matus’ hands. Zacek later indicated on social media that he intended to sell the ball, adding fuel to the legal dispute.
Matus’ legal team, led by prominent attorney John Uustal, argues that the incident is not a simple case of an accidental scrum. “This is not a football field where contact is expected,” said Uustal. “Max was a teenager at his birthday celebration, and a grown adult cannot simply take something from him and claim it as his own.”
Matus’ lawsuit highlights the unique nature of this case, as it centers on the ownership of a one-of-a-kind piece of sports history. If the ball were to be sold, Matus contends that he would suffer “irreparable harm” because no amount of monetary damages could replace such a historic artifact. The lawsuit also draws parallels to past legal disputes involving memorabilia, including the famous case of Barry Bonds’ record-breaking 73rd home run ball in 2001.
Goldin Auctions, a well-known auction house specializing in sports memorabilia, has stated that it will proceed with the sale of the ball as scheduled. A spokesperson for Goldin confirmed, “While we are aware of the lawsuit, there are no allegations of wrongdoing by our company.” The auction will continue as planned, with the ball expected to be a major highlight for collectors.
This legal battle echoes broader questions about the ownership of valuable sports memorabilia, as well as the rights of individuals versus organizations when it comes to high-profile auction items. Whether Matus can successfully claim the ball remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the story of Ohtani’s 50/50 baseball is far from over.
In a similar high-profile case, the dispute over Barry Bonds’ 73rd home run ball in 2001 resulted in a split of the proceeds between two men, Alex Popov and Patrick Hayashi, who fought over ownership of the ball after it was caught in a chaotic crowd scramble. That ball eventually sold for $450,000, underscoring the immense value and significance of such items in the world of sports memorabilia.
The case is ongoing, with the next legal proceedings expected to occur in the coming weeks.
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