Max Matus, an ambitious 18-year-old baseball enthusiast, has found himself entangled in a legal tussle over the ownership of the coveted 50th home run ball hit by the legendary Shohei Ohtani. This sought-after piece of sports history, symbolizing Ohtani’s milestone achievement in the season, is poised to kick-start bidding at an impressive $500,000.
The plot thickens as Matus files a lawsuit in Florida, arguing that the ball, currently in possession of fellow fan Chris Belanski, was wrongfully seized during a game on September 19 at loanDepot Park in Miami. Matus alleges that he initially had a tight grip on the ball, celebrating his 18th birthday when Belanski, with the assistance of his friend Kelvin Ramirez, allegedly snatched it away by force.
In a bid to halt the impending auction, Matus is pushing for the ball to be safeguarded in a neutral location until the legal matter is resolved. However, Goldin Auctions, the prominent auction house behind the sale, remains undeterred by the legal confrontation and intends to carry on with the auction proceedings.
Despite Matus’s legal pursuit, a Miami judge has rebuffed his request for a temporary restraining order, clearing the path for the auction to proceed as planned. Goldin Auctions, in response to the lawsuit, expressed their resolve to forge ahead with the auction of the coveted Ohtani 50th home run ball, basing their decision on a meticulous review of the case.
The legal drama is set to intensify as the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County grants Matus’s legal team an opportunity to present their arguments before the auction concludes on October 16. Should Matus emerge victorious, there is a potential for him to claim a portion of the proceeds from the ball’s sale.
Ken Goldin, the CEO of Goldin Auctions, discloses that Belanski swiftly reached out to them post the historic game to set the auction wheels in motion. Interestingly, the Los Angeles Dodgers had offered Belanski a substantial $300,000 for the ball, an offer he ceremoniously declined in favor of the auction route.
The auction launch features a tantalizing “buy-it-now” price of $4.5 million, available until October 9. Should bids escalate to $3 million before the stipulated deadline, the buy-it-now option will be rescinded, paving the way for an exhilarating bidding war leading up to the auction’s closure on October 16.
As the auction unfolds, Matus’s legal battle introduces a new layer of intrigue to the unfolding chronicle of one of this year’s most noteworthy sports memorabilia transactions. With collectors, baseball aficionados, and legal pundits keeping a close eye on the unfolding events, the outcome of this high-stakes saga remains shrouded in suspense and anticipation.