Shohei Ohtani's Historic 50/50 Ball Auction Proceeds Amid Legal Dispute

The auction of the baseball is moving forward despite ongoing lawsuits over its ownership, with bids reaching $1.8 million.

Shohei Ohtani's 50th home run ball, marking his achievement as the first player with 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season, is at the center of a legal battle.
Chris Belanski, who currently possesses the ball, initiated its auction, but two other fans, Max Matus and Joseph Davidov, claim prior possession and have filed lawsuits.
The ball's auction will proceed after all parties agreed to allow the sale, ensuring the winning bidder receives clear ownership, while the legal dispute over proceeds continues.
Bidding for the ball, facilitated by Goldin Auctions, has reached $1.5 million, with the final price including fees expected to be $1.83 million.
The auction is set to conclude on October 22, and the outcome of the ownership dispute will determine the allocation of the sale proceeds.