Max Matus, an eager 18-year-old baseball enthusiast, has sparked a legal quarrel to prevent the auction of the highly coveted Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball. This sought-after baseball, marking a monumental achievement in Ohtani’s career, is poised to ignite bidding wars starting at a staggering $500,000.
Matus’s claim, outlined in a lawsuit filed in Florida, asserts that the prized baseball – currently under the possession of another fan, Chris Belanski – was unjustly snatched from him during the September 19 game at loanDepot Park in Miami. The lawsuit not only implicates Belanski but also brings Belanski’s companion, Kelvin Ramirez, into the legal crosshairs, alleging that Matus was unlawfully stripped of the historic ball.
According to the legal document, Matus, who was present at the game to celebrate his 18th birthday, firmly clutched the ball in his left hand until Belanski allegedly intervened. Belanski is accused of forcibly wresting the ball away from Matus during a scuffle, leading to the current legal turmoil. Matus is adamant about putting a halt to the auction and has requested that the ball be kept in a secure location agreed upon by all involved parties until the court reaches a verdict.
Despite Matus’s legal actions, Goldin Auctions, the renowned New Jersey-based auction house in charge of the ball’s sale, is undeterred and plans to forge ahead with the auction proceedings. A Miami judge recently denied Matus’s plea for a temporary restraining order, thus allowing the auction to proceed as scheduled.
Responding to the lawsuit, Goldin Auctions issued a statement to ESPN affirming their intent to proceed with the sale. The statement read, “We are aware of the filed case and after reviewing the claims and evidence provided, we plan to commence with the auction of the Ohtani 50/50 ball.”
The legal showdown is set to unfold in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County, giving Matus’s legal team a platform to present their arguments before the auction culminates on October 16. Should they emerge victorious, Matus stands to potentially reap a portion of the proceeds from the ball’s sale.
Ken Goldin, the Chief Executive Officer of Goldin Auctions, disclosed that Belanski wasted no time in reaching out to them the day after Ohtani’s historic game to arrange for the auction. Reportedly, the Los Angeles Dodgers extended a generous offer of $300,000 to Belanski for the ball, which he turned down in favor of the auction route.
The auction spectacle kicks off with an intriguing “buy-it-now” price tag of $4.5 million, available for purchase until October 9. However, if bids reach $3 million before this deadline, the buy-it-now option will be withdrawn, paving the way for continued bidding until October 16.
The unfolding legal drama injected by Matus’s lawsuit adds an enthralling twist to the narrative surrounding one of the year’s most momentous sports memorabilia sales. With collectors, baseball aficionados, and legal pundits eagerly observing, the developments in this case promise an engaging spectacle.
To partake in the auction frenzy, head to Goldin Auctions and place your bids for this iconic baseball piece.
