Max Matus, an 18-year-old baseball enthusiast, has kicked off a legal skirmish to preempt the auction of a monumental artifact in baseball history—Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball. The bid for this precious piece is projected to launch at a whopping $500,000 and is set to begin this Friday.
Matus’s contention, unveiled in a lawsuit filed in Florida, centers on the alleged unfair acquisition of the momentous ball by another fan, Chris Belanski. It is claimed that during the September 19 game at loanDepot Park in Miami, Belanski, along with his comrade Kelvin Ramirez, infringed upon Matus’s rightful possession of the ball. Matus asserts that he had firmly grasped the ball with his left hand when Belanski forcefully deprived him of it through physical altercation.
With resolved determination, Matus seeks legal intervention to halt the impending auction and proposes the secure storage of the ball until the trial’s conclusion—a proposition agreeable to all stakeholders. Despite Matus’s efforts, Goldin Auctions, the reputable New Jersey-based auction house in charge of the sale, is steadfast in its decision to proceed with the auction. Following a denial of a temporary restraining order by a Miami judge on Thursday, the auction moves forward as scheduled.
Responding to the legal tussle, Goldin Auctions communicated to ESPN, expressing awareness of the lawsuit filed against them and affirming their intent to proceed with the auction after careful review of the circumstances presented in the lawsuit. The 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County will convene to deliberate on Matus’s plea before the gavel falls on October 16, potentially entitling Matus to a portion of the proceeds from the ball’s sale if the ruling is in his favor.
Ken Goldin, CEO of Goldin Auctions, disclosed that Belanski promptly initiated discussions for the ball’s auction with Goldin Auctions on the day following Ohtani’s record-breaking feat. A noteworthy revelation by Andy Slater of Fox Sports 640 alluded to the Los Angeles Dodgers proffering Belanski a sum of $300,000 for the precious ball, an offer that Belanski opted to decline in favor of proceeding with the auction.
The auction commences with a tantalizing “buy-it-now” price tag of $4.5 million, exclusively offered until October 9. However, should the bidding reach $3 million before the stipulated date, the buy-it-now privilege will be rescinded, extending the bidding period until October 16. The unfolding drama surrounding the auction of Ohtani’s 50th home run ball has captivated the attention of collectors, baseball aficionados, and legal pundits as the legal saga introduces a riveting dimension to the unfolding narrative.
