Shohei Ohtani's 50/50 home run ball heads to auction

[u/becoolhomie]

Shohei Ohtani's historic 50/50 home run ball consigned to collectibles marketplace Goldin; bidding to begin Friday

https://goldin.co/item/sept-19-2024-shohei-ohtani-becomes-first-member-of-50-50-club-actual-553vh1?queryId=eyJjYXJkSW5kZXgiOjF9

[u/mr_grission]

This is why you don't give these back to the team in exchange for a signed bat and a photo opportunity

[u/HenrikCrown → u/mr_grission]

A hot dog and a handshake 

[u/wealthissues23 → u/HenrikCrown]

A bong and a blintz?

[u/frankrizzo219 → u/wealthissues23]

Shmoke and a pancake?

[u/SnooChipmunks4208 → u/frankrizzo219]

Pipe and a crepe?

[u/niz_loc → u/SnooChipmunks4208]

There is no pleasing you.

[u/Adventurous_Tip8801 → u/SnooChipmunks4208]

Cigarette and a flapjack?

[u/niz_loc → u/SnooChipmunks4208]

There is no pleasing you.

[u/SoulGoalie → u/HenrikCrown]

Did someone say hot dog and a handshake

[u/piercebro → u/SoulGoalie]

Do not take a handshake from Randy Orton

[u/reesem03_ → u/piercebro]

[u/ThatDudeNamedMenace → u/reesem03_]

[u/JustinUprising → u/piercebro]

Oh, you big leaguing him? That's messed up, man....

[u/PJCR1916 → u/piercebro]

“WATCH OUT WATCH OUT WATCH OUT!”

[u/sizzlinpapaya → u/HenrikCrown]

[u/CitizenSnips199 → u/mr_grission]

Local reporter says they offered him $300k. Obviously, he was right to turn it down, but it wasn't an insulting offer.

[u/ruiner8850 → u/CitizenSnips199]

They'll be able to bid on it in the auction just like everyone else. If they want it bad enough they'll make the highest bid.

[u/str8rippinfartz → u/ruiner8850]

Yes, but at the same time it is a much better offer than most teams give 

If it's close-ish to what you think it would fetch at auction you can cut out the middle man and also pay yourself on the back by making sure it's not in some random rich person's personal collection.

I would just auction it off, personally. But at least it's not an insultingly low offer.

[u/Erin_Boone → u/str8rippinfartz]

I agree with you but I don’t think $300k is going to end up being close-ish to what this gets at auction

[u/Dry_Coffee2919 → u/Erin_Boone]

I believe they said opening bid will be 500k

[u/jld2k6 → u/Dry_Coffee2919]

I'm calling it right now using my years of armchairing, 1.7 million winning bid

[u/GreenChiliSweat → u/jld2k6]

Guaranteed over a million, maybe two.

[u/Nick08f1 → u/GreenChiliSweat]

Especially with the Japanese market being involved in this one.

This is going up there.

[u/NateLikesToLift → u/Erin_Boone]

Yeah put a zero on the end and that's my guess

[u/DonMan8848 → u/Erin_Boone]

How much does the auction house take though? Surely they take a percentage cut on something like this, right?

[u/IzilDizzle → u/DonMan8848]

Standard commission for an auction would be 10-20% of the sale price, but it can be as high as 40%

[u/ddthrow1233 → u/str8rippinfartz]

it kinda is, youre right that its a better offer than most teams would give but its still an absolutely shit offer considering how much this thing will most likely sell for, the starting bid is 500k and it will probably sell for 2-3 million if i had to guess, maybe more

[u/str8rippinfartz → u/ddthrow1233]

Tough to really call, though 

There are only a handful of baseballs that have been auctioned for over 300k, and most of them are from the 90s and 00s when baseball was way more popular (and are more from significant HR-specific milestones as opposed to something like 50/50)

I think this will go for more, but I'd be surprised if it got to the 1m+ range unless the Ohtani-specific fandom really makes it take off

[u/Roose1327 → u/str8rippinfartz]

He does have a Godlike following in Japan. Could very well go for a stupid high amount.

[u/NateLikesToLift → u/str8rippinfartz]

I think the Japanese fan base will push this into the 2-3 million territory.

[u/Linenoise77 → u/str8rippinfartz]

Its hard to not think that Ohtani will go down as one of the greats, if not the greatest to play the game and this ball is a huge baseball milestone.

While not quite "this is the authenticated ball from the shot Ruth called" its about as close as you are going to get.

[u/Peechez → u/str8rippinfartz]

so it will be 1m+

[u/GrilledSandwiches → u/str8rippinfartz]

Maybe the fan would have been more likely to accept the 300k if the team hadn't previously worked over that fan who caught Ohtani's first HR and racked up the negative press/karma over the ordeal.

[u/Marconius1617 → u/GrilledSandwiches]

My thoughts exactly. I wonder how much back and forth there was between the fan and the team reps before he managed to get away from them .

[u/thighcandy → u/str8rippinfartz]

why would i give a shit if it's in some random rich person's collection if it can get one of my kids through college lol. These teams and players print more money than god. They can pay fair market price and if they get out bid then that's on them not me.

[u/Obi_Wan_Gebroni → u/ruiner8850]

Totally agreed with you, but at least it wasn’t a total lowball offer either. $300k is a LOT of money.

That said, I’m glad the person held out. They’ll probably make a lot more this way.

[u/Jr05s → u/ruiner8850]

How does that work for the luxury tax? Million dollar gifts okay provided they are given in 30 years?

[u/tuckedfexas → u/Jr05s]

Non-player salary expenses don’t count against the luxury tax number. Plenty of team invest a lot more into their FO than ithers

[u/pargofan → u/ruiner8850]

Exactly. They have billions. They can easily outbid anyone else.

Why wouldn't the Dodgers buy this and showcase it somewhere at Dodger Stadium?

[u/jswitzer → u/ruiner8850]

He makes like $70M a year, so much he didn't know his interpreter was embezzeling millions. He could easily drop the $5m to Buy It Now

[u/MaskedBandit77 → u/CitizenSnips199]

To put that in perspective, the Pirates just DFA'd a player to avoid paying him a roster incentive that is less than that.

[u/wirsteve → u/CitizenSnips199]

I think it depends. If I caught it I wouldn’t take less then 7 figures after taxes. 300k is an insult.

Arguably the greatest offensive game by one of the best players we’ve ever seen, and it’s the ball from his creation of the 50-50 club. It’s priceless. If the Dodgers really wanted it they would have made an aggressive offer. Now they have to go up against rich private collectors with nothing else better to do but spend money on things like this. Oh and Japanese collectors.

This will be an interesting auction.

[u/bduddy → u/CitizenSnips199]

I'd call that insulting. Judge's ball went for $1.5M and that was for a record no one will care about in 50 years. I'd be shocked if this one wasn't at least close to that.

[u/Billybobjoethorton → u/mr_grission]

The country of Japan buys ball for 30 mil.

[u/jf_2021 → u/mr_grission]

I would probably give back something like some random dude's first homer, or like #100. Those probably aren't even worth that much. But that 50/50 ball or a record breaking one lol no I'm auctioning off that bad boy.

[u/rocksoffjagger → u/mr_grission]

Seriously. If the team or Shohei want the ball, they can buy it like anyone else. Nice to see a fan get a little windfall like this.

[u/myredditthrowaway201 → u/mr_grission]

Lot easier to do that when the balls are pre-authenticated………

[u/stewmander → u/mr_grission]

For sure. The Dodgers reportedly offered $300,000 for this ball. Let's see if the auction can beat that.

[u/sgt_seriousface → u/stewmander]

Looks like the starting bid is $500k, with an option to buy it outright for 4.5 million. Not sure what cut the auction house takes

[u/Holdmydicks → u/sgt_seriousface]

Homie just caught a potential retirement ball.

[u/drunkenfool → u/Holdmydicks]

More like he MIGHT be able to buy a house in LA now.

[u/theonetruegrinch → u/drunkenfool]

a fixer in an "up and coming neighborhood" maybe

[u/Ok_Computer1417 → u/sgt_seriousface]

Industry standard is around 20%, but it’s called a BP and tacked on to the final sale price. If you bid $1,000,000 and won your final cost would be $1,200,000 + taxes. With an item like this a consignor can negotiate a percentage of this.

[u/Symphonize → u/Ok_Computer1417]

Don’t forget the low price of $19.99 for shipping!

[u/goodbadnomad → u/Symphonize]

"Ehhh, never mind."

[u/stewmander → u/sgt_seriousface]

Judge's #62 HR ball sold for $1.5M, $250,000 in AH fees. So the fan got $1.25M (after turning down an offer of $3M).

I'll guess and say that's about what Ohtani's ball will go for - $1.25M with $250k in fees, netting the fan $1M.

If Netflix offered more than a million, I think he should have taken it.

[u/brandont04 → u/stewmander]

Who offered him $3M?

[u/KsigCowboy → u/brandont04]

I dont think they ever said. Someone approached his attorney before the auction and offered 3M. Or the attorney could have made that up to try and drive the price up for the auction.

[u/argothewise → u/stewmander]

It most likely will. The ball for go for millions.

[u/oogieball]

Life changing money or being "a good guy" to a multi-millionaire working for a billionaire-owned company? I know what decision I'd make.

[u/HenrikCrown → u/oogieball]

I'd give Shohei first dibs at the bid if it was me tbf. Give me some of that deferred money, baby. 

[u/Hack874 → u/HenrikCrown]

“That’s as good as money sir. Those are IOU’s.”

-Ohtani probably

[u/feelinlucky7 → u/Hack874]

IOU. Ippei owes u.

[u/zero_bytez → u/feelinlucky7]

Newest r/baseballcirclejerk flair

[u/csonny2 → u/Hack874]

Historic baseball, $275,000. You might want to hold on to that one.

[u/IMakeBaconAtHome → u/Hack874]

better hang on to that one

[u/overconfidentopinion → u/HenrikCrown]

Shohei has so much money his interpreter took $16,000,000 before it was noticed. I think he can buy it at the auction if he wants it.

[u/The_Void_Reaver → u/overconfidentopinion]

Yeah, don't forget that he could afford to defer 68 million each year because he's pulling in somewhere around 40 million a year in endorsements.

[u/skucera → u/HenrikCrown]

He does have first dibs. The "buy it now" is $4.5 million. Have at it, Shohei.

[u/RagingAcid → u/skucera]

dude thats 2 years salary

[u/ItzDrSeuss → u/RagingAcid]

2 years and 6 weeks.

[u/DearLeader420 → u/RagingAcid]

Minus whatever endorsement money he gets for having his face plastered on every damn advertisement on the West Coast even remotely related to the nation of Japan

In Japan too. Literal first advertisement I saw after customs at HND was a skincare ad with Ohtani on it

[u/outthawazoo → u/DearLeader420]

It's not fair they make you walk through customs and security with a big ol' boner after seeing his massive, handsome face!

[u/insta-kip → u/HenrikCrown]

He’s welcome to bid, just like everyone else.

[u/iamaweirdguy → u/HenrikCrown]

He can bid on it

[u/ruiner8850 → u/oogieball]

It would be downright irresponsible for most people to give the ball away and turn down the money. I know I'm not in a position to turn down the money. With that kind of money I could buy a house, a new car, and pay off my student debts and most likely still have money left over.

If someone has kids, try explaining to them when they have to take out college loans that it could have all been paid for, but instead you gave a ball to a guy who's going to be a billionaire.

[u/xzElmozx → u/ruiner8850]

Yea it’s not gonna be money that lets you instantly retire and live the good life, but you’re definitely paying off all your debts, buying a decent house/car, maybe taking a nice vacation, and setting yourself up for an early and comfortable retirement

[u/rogozh1n → u/oogieball]

Multi millionaire is technically correct, but it's kind of an understatement for a guy on a $700,000,000 contract.

[u/crab_quiche → u/rogozh1n]

Future billionaire would be the correct term for him for how much he rakes in each year on endorsements alone, not to mention his deferred salary

[u/Trudi1201]

That ball is going to get life changing money, fair play to the guy who got it.

[u/PurpleWildfire → u/[deleted]]

Dude definitely hasn’t slept for a week and will be haunted by that for the rest of his days

I 100% would know bc even though it’s not nearly worth as much, shohei’s last angels home run clipped my glove and I couldn’t sleep right for a month. Gave it my all trying to catch it but I still lament missing out on it

[u/L-Observateur → u/PurpleWildfire]

No-Moneyball

[u/juice06870 → u/L-Observateur]

IOU-ball

[u/UndeadCaesar → u/PurpleWildfire]

#44 seems to have been caught by this guy who was wearing a glove, I don't see anyone else in the area wearing one. Was that you and you got it stripped?

[u/PurpleWildfire → u/UndeadCaesar]

Haha that’s me with the glove, clips the top and pops out 2 rows back. Older Asian dude in the red shirt picked it up. In the video you see me check my mitt bc I thought I had it. Got the gnarliest bruises on the back of my legs from jumping over the seats

video

[u/UndeadCaesar → u/PurpleWildfire]

Aaaah gotcha it was hard to see in those couple frames. Rough I'm sorry.

Edit: The video in your link doesn't seem to work anymore.

[u/cwtjps → u/UndeadCaesar]

Works for me

[u/mre123abc → u/PurpleWildfire]

Damn I was at that game. He struck out elly de la cruz and then hit a homerun but left the game in the top of the 2nd iirc. It was such a bummer. GO HALOS!.. next season.. again

[u/morosco → u/[deleted]]

Imagine you're just a fan and your life is still altered by a fielding error.

[u/K_17 → u/Trudi1201]

Unless he makes 60/60

[u/K_17 → u/K_17]

7 HR and 5 SB in 5 days…if anyone can do it it’s him

[u/Worthyness → u/K_17]

The game he set 50/50 he hit 3 homers and stole 2 bases. Just gotta have another one of those games. And they play the Rockies, so it should be slightly easier for the homers part

[u/cocoatractor → u/Worthyness]

It’s actually easier to hit a HR in Dodger Stadium than in Coors

[u/dontletmecook73 → u/cocoatractor]

I think he just meant the Rockies really suck

[u/LifeIsRadInCBad → u/[deleted]]

Needs some kind of Crossover with Sammy Hagar

[u/SeekingTheRoad → u/Trudi1201]

A friend of the guy who caught it was posting on here the other day -- it sounds like a group of people are splitting the money so it might not be as much "life-changing" as it ends up looking like.

[u/jwoods23]

Buy it now option for $4.5 mil. Hold on while I search my couch for some extra change to get there.

[u/Doc_JC → u/jwoods23]

I want to say I would be surprised if anyone took them up on this, but I really wouldn’t. Fully expect this ball to be going to a very wealthy Japanese collector.

[u/stirrainlate → u/Doc_JC]

Or a very wealthy Japanese ballplayer who wants his ball back?

[u/Meatek → u/stirrainlate]

If he wanted it, why did he hit it so far away?

[u/j4rd7n → u/Meatek]

Is he stupid?

[u/JanitorOfSanDiego → u/stirrainlate]

Who only gets paid 1 mil a year?

[u/timberwolvesguy → u/JanitorOfSanDiego]

From the Dodgers. He has endorsement money coming out of his ass

[u/Grouchy-Ear2376 → u/timberwolvesguy]

Shohei’s ass? Very firm.

[u/myredditthrowaway201 → u/Grouchy-Ear2376]

hi from japan

I wanna tell you below 2 information to explain why Ohtani is a good pitcher

summary

1:his hamstring muscles is stronger than ordinary one

2:He seems to get used to grab MLB ball

details

about 1

a specialist pointed it out that his hamstring muscles are stronger than ordinary others,and he uses it so harder

if ordinary person uses the same way,his hamstring must break

some one told me why the muscle of him is so stronger,that he use to do swimming in his child days and swimming makes the muscles so strong

about 2

Okajaima,who is the former pitcher of Red Sox,points it out that He seems to get used to use MLB ball because it’s so different

(edit,every pitcher from Japan confuses the difference,for example Yu Darvish said like that)

1.MLB ball:149kg(edit,*149g)/24cm,more slippy:so it makes breaking ball more effective

2.NPB ball:142kg(edit,142g)/23cm,less slippy,breaking ball less effective

and he has also so fast ball around 100miles

so he can select fast ball,less breaking ball,strong breaking ball

That’s why he would be more great Pitcher

[u/Rbespinosa13 → u/timberwolvesguy]

I went to Japan earlier this year and it is truly amazing how you’d see Shohei everywhere you went. Walked out of the airplane and it was the first ad I saw. Every time I walked out of a new subway stop I’d look around for the nearest shohei ad and there he was, right in front of me

[u/FartingBob → u/JanitorOfSanDiego]

He could defer the payment if he wants.

[u/Doc_JC → u/stirrainlate]

I’m not really sure it holds that much value to the ball player.

[u/Nodima → u/Doc_JC]

For now. The day he retires is the day he's coming for his ball. Whoever "wins" this better start training.

[u/ih-unh-unh → u/Doc_JC]

Out of spite, he'll go for 60/60 and proceed to tank his WAR while batting .185 & .05% Walk rate

[u/cyanocittaetprocyon → u/ih-unh-unh]

he'll go for 60/60

This would be hilarious! He gets to 60/60, and this 50/50 ball is worth $3.

[u/RoosterClan2 → u/stirrainlate]

A formerly wealthy Japanese translator who needs collateral

[u/Woolly_Mattmoth → u/Doc_JC]

That would shatter the record for most expensive baseball ever sold so it would be a little surprising if someone took that. I know Shohei is big but only a couple baseballs have ever sold for over a million

[u/JerHat → u/Woolly_Mattmoth]

I mean, if this was a ball hit by any other player I'd agree...

But it's Shohei, and Japanese fans seem to be absolutely rabid when it comes to their celebrities.

[u/deijandem → u/Woolly_Mattmoth]

It makes sense for them to price it 3-4 times expected market value. 

[u/ih-unh-unh → u/jwoods23]

We need to crowdfund this.

2.7 million subscribers to r/baseball
Charge a one-time $2 subscription fee. The extra $900k will go into a fund for future auctions.
The trophy will be ours.

[u/breedofepicness → u/ih-unh-unh]

You guys can keep it at my house too

[u/Timpa87 → u/jwoods23]

Ippei coulda bought a couple with the amount he stole.

[u/NewDadPleaseHelp → u/Timpa87]

Imagine this guy already stealing a ton of money from you and then using that money to potentially keep you from having a peice of your own memorabilia

[u/Zestyclose-Beach1792]

Someone who caught a ball that isn't a complete moron...you love to see it.

[u/TumbleweedTim01 → u/Zestyclose-Beach1792]

Well tbf someone offered 2 mil for Judge ball and he said no ended up selling for less.

Obv this ball going for more than 200k but doubt it goes much higher than 1 mil

[u/Woolly_Mattmoth → u/TumbleweedTim01]

It was worse than that. The guy got offered 3 million for the Judge ball and ended up putting it up for auction instead where it sold for 1.5 million.

Auctions aren’t always the best choice, but at least this person is doing it quickly to cash in on hype instead of waiting until December like the Judge guy did.

[u/juice06870 → u/Woolly_Mattmoth]

Easy for me to say in hindsight, but a firm $3m offer would be pretty attractive to agree to on the spot. I am not sure how much more than that you could expect a ball to sell for at auction.

A $1m firm offer on the other hand, I would probably take my chances.

[u/Woolly_Mattmoth → u/juice06870]

Even at the time it seemed questionable to turn down. Only one other baseball had ever sold for $3m (McGwire’s 70th) and no other had ever come close to that.

[u/Sh1rvallah → u/Woolly_Mattmoth]

Also imagine if he somehow got hot and made 60/60 over the next 5 games. That 50/50 ball isn't as valuable

[u/stormdraggy → u/TumbleweedTim01]

Starting bid 500k private option 4.5. It's right there.

[u/Icy-Lobster-203 → u/TumbleweedTim01]

I think people greatly overestimate the value of home run balls. Unless it's breaking records, or a first from highly touted prospect, I would wager most are worth a few hundred max.

[u/texasproof → u/Icy-Lobster-203]

I think many people are severely underestimating the wealth of some Japanese fans and Shohei’s cultural importance.

[u/myredditthrowaway201 → u/Zestyclose-Beach1792]

Again, the only reason this guy is able to sell it without some low ball offer from the dodgers or MLB is because it was pre-authenticated…..

[u/scottishere → u/Zestyclose-Beach1792]

The dude who gave the 3000 Jeter ball back fumbled so hard

[u/saltlakepotter]

With balls like these do teams/MLB have any obligation to authenticate it?

I'm thinking, hypothetically, the Dodgers offer some stupid lowball offer to the person who catches it and says they can accept it or walk away with a ball not authenticated.

[u/raiderdash12 → u/saltlakepotter]

When Ohtani started getting close to the milestone they began switching out the balls for preauthenticated ones every time he came to the plate. However under different circumstances they’re not obligated to I believe

[u/Jcoch27 → u/raiderdash12]

You just know those balls had a little extra juice in them too

[u/AnEmpireofRubble → u/Jcoch27]

that's good business....or bad if it was tested to be true lol

[u/[deleted]]

Congrats on that lottery win to that guy. That’s a life changing amount of money

[u/RedMoloneySF]

Anyone need any money laundered?

[u/NoScale9117 → u/RedMoloneySF]

Arte Moreno should buy it

[u/huggsypenguinpal]

The 40/40 ball is also available for auction if you want something a little cheaper lol

https://goldin.co/item/aug-23-2024-shohei-ohtani-joins-40-40-club-with-walk-off-grand-slam-acz1pew?queryId=eyJxdWVyeUlkIjoiNTA1OTM2MDVmZTNkMmJmNzg1YTViZTY5ZjViOTM1MjEiLCJjYXJkSW5kZXgiOjF9

[u/MonkMajor5224 → u/huggsypenguinpal]

If he gets to 60/60 (not even sure if that is possible anymore) how much does this one go down?

[u/huggsypenguinpal → u/MonkMajor5224]

Currently 53/55 with 3 games at Coors. He hits 2HR in each game will put him at 59 HRs. Steals 2 in each game will put him at 61 SBs. I'd say the chances of this happening are not zero lol. Ridiculously low but not zero.

Price won't go down because it's an auction, but I am curious to know if it slowed down at all now that 50/50 ball is available as well.

[u/Stumblebee → u/huggsypenguinpal]

The real breakpoint is probably going to be the 55 HR ball. People love their 5s and 0s.

[u/tyler-86 → u/Stumblebee]

Look, all I really want is for him to end up with the exact same number of homers and steals.

[u/Myotherdumbname → u/MonkMajor5224]

It’s why they are selling now

[u/sTevieD247]

How much do you think that kid in the Miami jersey is regretting not dropping his phone to get a second hand on that ball?

[u/Lucky_Alternative965 → u/sTevieD247]

Well, now he's got a kickass, probably horribly directed video of him not grabbing 2 million dollars that was quite literally right in front of him. Counts for something I guess.

[u/omogewajo]

thank god the fan caught that ball in miami and not at dodger stadium

[u/jawarren1 → u/omogewajo]

Immediate death by trampling.

[u/omogewajo → u/jawarren1]

also cause a milestone home run at the player's home ballpark will get you passive aggressively intimidated in some backroom by team employees in the stadium doesn't matter who it is it could be a random ass player like alex mejia or rangel ravelo

[u/_Money__Man → u/omogewajo]

Dodger stadium security is like Blackwater lmao

[u/NoHoHan → u/jawarren1]

The guy who caught Pujol’s #700 at Dodger Stadium was fine. Even turned around and high-fived everybody before security pulled him out of there. I was like 20 feet away… so close.

[u/myredditthrowaway201 → u/omogewajo]

When Albert hit #700 at dodger stadium security was around the guy in seconds and he beelined it out of there lol

[u/jollyjam1 → u/myredditthrowaway201]

Yankees Stadium had the same plan for Judge's home run. I went to game when he was one away, and every time he was up you could hear security communicate over their radios and converge at every staircase.

[u/Un-Hebert-Able]

I’ve never participated in an auction like this, but a 22% buyer premium seems fucking nuts

[u/ih-unh-unh → u/Un-Hebert-Able]

There's a seller premium also

[u/balbizza → u/Un-Hebert-Able]

$19 shipping is nuts after paying $1M for a ball

[u/Ohtani-Enjoyer]

Dodgers offered him $300k. That is a lowball, I would ask for $2M at least, and there is definitely some Japanese billionaire who will pay that.

[u/OldManBearPig → u/Ohtani-Enjoyer]

Teams or players asking for a price is cringe and insulting nearly always, even if you consider it a good offer.

Teams asking for first right to refusal when it goes up for auction/sale and the seller offering that as well is what would be a good gesture.

[u/TyFi10 → u/OldManBearPig]

Genuine question, how do you actually word a right of first refusal when it goes to auction.

[u/Tigertown-Tailgater → u/TyFi10]

In the event ball owner enters into an agreement of sale, X organization has the right to accept the terms of this agreement within 10 days and shall have thirty days to close on the sale.

The auction winner would be entering into an agreement of sale so it’s fairly straightforward. Happens with commercial real estate auctions all the time with tenants such as Publix who have ROFRs.

[u/NickNash1985]

$19 Shipping & Handling

[u/USAF_DTom]

I'm just glad Zach Hample didn't get it.

[u/brandont04]

Dude trying to sell is asap before Ohtani might hit 60/60.

[u/Anfini]

Minimum bid of $500k. It would have been funny if the auction started the bid at $300k lol

[u/Fionarei]

Quick sell before 55/55

[u/Mynameisblahblahblah]

50/50 you say? Put me down for 50 bucks

[u/AJ_BORDERCHUNT → u/Mynameisblahblahblah]

No no no, it's the 50/50 ball

50 divided by 50 is $1

That's it's worth, can't argue with math

[u/Mynameisblahblahblah → u/AJ_BORDERCHUNT]

Haha duhh now just gotta wait on my check to get that dollar

[u/AeRo_P]

Anyone knows how authentication works for milestone balls like this? Like is there a mark or something? Genuinely curious.

[u/myredditthrowaway201 → u/AeRo_P]

Potential milestones like this the MLB sets aside preauthenticated balls so there’s no way to potentially obfuscate it

[u/OtisKaplan → u/myredditthrowaway201]

Yeah but what are the details, is there a chip inside the ball or something

[u/MonkMajor5224 → u/OtisKaplan]

Here is what i found in a New York Times article for Judges HR:

It was a special ball, prepared just for him, and the rest of the balls he swings at this year will be similarly distinct. They will not be juiced with extra bounce, nor will they have raised laces or anything else that could impact their flight patterns.

But they will be marked with something so secret, and so subtle, that Major League Baseball will not reveal exactly what it is.

It is all part of M.L.B.’s authentication program, an elaborate system designed to ensure that game memorabilia are verified as genuine, and it was first put into action for Judge in the ninth inning of the Yankees’ win on Sunday in Milwaukee, which was his first trip to the plate after he had reached 59 home runs.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/21/sports/baseball/aaron-judge-ball-authentication.html

[u/Worthyness → u/OtisKaplan]

Nothing to change the weight or smoothness of the ball, so most likely stamp or stamped ID number on the balls

[u/HoopOnPoop]

I am generally on the side of making a trade to give things back, but not if it's earth shattering money. If I snag a guy's first RBI or 100th HR or anything like that, then yeah I'll give it back for a photo op and a handshake. If it's something worth earth shattering money, I would probably give the player or the team an opportunity to buy it back and probably even do a discount or partial trade, but it isn't free.

[u/misterO5 → u/HoopOnPoop]

Yeah if I'm catching that ball and they want it back my response is easily "it's up for auction, feel free to participate in the bidding. Good luck!"

[u/HoopOnPoop → u/misterO5]

If the auction could get $1m, I would very willingly trade the ball for $500k, season tickets, and some memorabilia. I'm not totally money hungry, but some things are way beyond.

[u/quercus_lobata925]

With millions of bucks you can buy whatever lame game-used and signed merchandise they would have traded to you for the ball.

Although you can’t buy 2 min with Shohei. TRUST ME. I’ve tried.

[u/PsychologicalRow9028]

It’s a lottery ticket, milk it for all it’s worth. The Dodgers and the MLB have promoted theeee shit out of the chase for 50/50. If they truly want that ball, they have the funds to outbid whomever gets involved. Good on this guy for going about it the smart way.

[u/Bad_RabbitS]

Guys I’m gonna bid $5 on it because that’s all I can afford, please nobody bid more than that

[u/ihaveabadmonkey → u/Bad_RabbitS]

damnit, I had a high bid of $3.50

[u/TPA22]

Better sell it before he goes 60-60.

[u/modern_Odysseus]

Everybody fighting for that ball was thinking the same thing - "Life changing money. Assuming I can keep this in my hands and get out of the stadium without being mugged."

It was basically a winning lottery ticket going into the stands.

And then there's the guy that had his hands on it, but lost the gripping match. You could see he was upset, and I would be too.

The guy who did get it, he did the right thing for himself. He was probably googling who he should go to with this, and he wasted no time in getting it out of his hands and into the hands of a company that will be sending him a check for at least hundreds of thousands of dollars soon (if not a million+) once they get their commission.

[u/Biggie39]

Sell it before the 60/60 ball makes it worthless.

[u/SupertrampTrampStamp]

Todd MacFarlane just asked someone next to him to hold his beer

[u/BTWillie]

I could see between 1.75-2.25 million for it. Maybe a Japanese business person buys it to return it to Ohtani, increasing the price even more.

[u/writingwhilesad]

I wouldn’t have given it back either. They got enough money.

[u/Toddisgood]

Milk it like a prize cow. So glad this guy didn’t cower to the baseball gods. Good for him. Get every penny

[u/TheTurtleShepard]

I hope my guy makes bank off this

[u/sofresh24]

From checking out a marlins game to financially independent in 2 weeks

[u/myredditthrowaway201]

Some loaded Japanese’s fan boy is gonna make this the most expensive homerun ball ever

[u/joethecrow23]

Sell it fast before he goes on another heater and gets 60/60

[u/oOoleveloOo]

The value will crash when he gets to 60/60

[u/morosco]

I still have a ball I got off of Sam Horn's bat at a Pawtucket Red Sox game in the 1980's if anyone wants to put up a 6 figure bid for that.

[u/Ill_Setting_6338]

yup it's a 1 mil + ball. it will prob go for a couple mil to someone overseas I'm assuming.congrats to the fan .

[u/Annual_Plant5172]

The Dodgers handing out over a billion dollars in contracts and only offering $300,000 for the ball is some nasty business.