Second fan files lawsuit over Ohtani’s historic home run ball

A legal dispute over Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball has escalated, with a second fan filing a lawsuit claiming possession of the valuable item. The baseball, which Ohtani hit during his Sept. 19 game against the Miami Marlins, is currently up for auction through Goldin Auctions, with bids already reaching $1.464 million.

The latest lawsuit was filed by Joseph Davidov in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court. Davidov claims he secured the ball in his hand before another fan jumped over a railing, attacked him, and caused the ball to roll into the possession of Chris Belanski, who left the stadium with it. Davidov’s suit follows a similar legal action filed by 18-year-old Max Matus, who also claims ownership of the ball. Matus alleges that he grabbed the ball first, but that Belanski, described in the suit as a “muscular older man,” forcibly took it from him by trapping his arm during a scramble in the stands.

Both Davidov and Matus are seeking rightful ownership of the historic baseball, which marks Ohtani’s achievement as the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.

Due to these lawsuits, the sale of the ball has been temporarily delayed, pending a court hearing set for Oct. 10. Video footage of the incident will be presented as part of the legal proceedings.

Until then, the ball’s fate remains uncertain, though it has drawn significant interest from collectors, potentially rivaling the $1.5 million sale of Aaron Judge’s American League record-breaking 62nd home run ball in 2022.

Goldin Auctions, the auction platform handling the sale, recently extended the auction’s end date from Oct. 16 to Oct. 22, citing the high level of international interest in Ohtani’s historic home run ball.