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The remarkable Shohei Ohtani has just made headlines with his record-setting 50/50 ball, which has found a new proprietor. This prized baseball artifact fetched an astonishing $4.39 MILLION during an auction, thereby earning the title of the most valuable ball in the realm of sports.
The competitive bidding for this item — co-listed with Goldin Auctions — concluded on Tuesday, with the final bid eclipsing the previous record of $3 million paid for Mark McGwire‘s 70th home run ball from 1998, which had held the title of the most expensive ball sold at auction.
The victorious bid was initially set at $3.6 million, but with the inclusion of a 22-percent buyer’s premium, the final price skyrocketed to an eye-popping $4,392,000.
The identity of the new owner remains undisclosed, yet we might venture a guess that it belongs to a fervent Ohtani supporter or a wealthy baseball enthusiast.
Ken Goldin noted that the auction attracted bids from around the world, which aligns perfectly considering Ohtani’s status as a global icon.
Ohtani achieved this extraordinary milestone against the Miami Marlins on September 19, and despite ongoing legal disputes among fans regarding the ball’s ownership, Goldin successfully negotiated an agreement with all parties to proceed with the auction.
TMZSports.com
Originally, the bidding commenced at $500K, but Goldin informed TMZ Sports that he anticipated the final amount would significantly exceed that figure — and indeed, it has!
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