A second fan has filed a lawsuit over rightful possession of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball, following last week’s lawsuit filed by 18-year-old Max Matus. The record-setting ball is currently listed as up for auction through Goldin Auctions, with bidding up to $1.464 million.
The latest suit, filed by Joseph Davidov in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court, lists the defendants as Matus, Goldin, Chris Belanski, who left loanDepot Park with the ball that Ohtani hit and put it up for auction, and Kelvin Ramirez, who the suit says has claimed an ownership interest in the ball on social media.
Ohtani became the first MLB player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season by going 6-for-6 with three home runs, two stolen bases and 10 RBI in the Dodgers’ 20-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Sept. 29. There was a particularly chaotic scramble for the 50th home run ball after it landed in the left-field stands.
According to the latest filing, Davidov claims he was “able to firmly and completely grab the ball in his left hand while it was on the ground” before “an unknown fan wrongfully jumped over the railing, jumped onto (Davidov) and (Davidov’s) arm and attacked (Davidov) causing the 50/50 Ball to come loose and roll into the hands of Defendant Chris Belanski.”
The filing claims Davidov “would have retained control and possession of the 50/50 Ball if were not for the assault of the unknown fan who jumped onto” him.
Davidov is seeking damages in excess of $50,000.
The auction for the 50th home run ball is still active, though a previous ruling tied to Matus’ lawsuit stipulated that it could not be sold before a hearing scheduled for Oct. 10. Bidding opened at $500,000 on Sept. 27. With a current high bid of $1.464 million, the ball is on the cusp of surpassing Aaron Judge’s American League record 62nd home run ball from the 2022 season as the second most expensive home run ball of all time. Judge’s ball sold for $1.5 million. The record is held by Mark McGwire’s then-record 70th home run ball from the 1998 season, which sold for $3.005 million.
On Tuesday, the auction’s end date was changed from Oct. 16 to Oct. 22. According to a Goldin spokesperson, the change was made “given the volume of international interest in this item.”
