Shohei Ohtani, the standout star of the Los Angeles Dodgers and recent World Series champion, is embroiled in a legal battle to reclaim a collection of baseball cards worth a whopping $325,000. The cards, which were fraudulently purchased by Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, have become the center of a heated dispute between the two parties.
This saga began earlier this year when Mizuhara pleaded guilty to defrauding Ohtani of nearly $17 million through bank and tax fraud schemes. The misdeeds came to light between January and March of 2024 when Mizuhara used Ohtani’s money to acquire various sports cards from online platforms such as eBay and Whatnot, with the intention of turning a profit on the sales.
In a bold move to reclaim what he believes is rightfully his, Ohtani took his case to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. In his plea, Ohtani argued that the seized baseball cards, along with a selection of personally signed collectible cards featuring his image, should be returned to him as they were bought using his funds.
The court filings provided a detailed inventory of the items seized from Mizuhara, which included collectible sports cards stored in silver and black Panopply cases, gray Panopply cases, a box containing additional collectible sports cards, a card wrapping device, and plastic card protector holders. These possessions now stand at the center of the legal showdown between Ohtani and his former confidant.
Mizuhara’s misdeeds resulted in his dismissal from the Dodgers in March once his fraudulent activities came to light. Although his sentencing was initially scheduled for October 25 and later postponed to December 20, it has now been pushed to January 24 as the legal proceedings continue to unfold.
The upcoming hearing on December 20 will play a crucial role in determining whether Ohtani can successfully reclaim ownership of the seized sports cards. This legal confrontation signifies another chapter in the tale of betrayal and deceit that transpired between Ohtani and Mizuhara, creating a rift in the once-trusting relationship between the baseball superstar and his former interpreter.
As the baseball card battle rages on in the courtroom, spectators eagerly await the outcome of Ohtani’s quest to retrieve his cherished collection from the clutches of his former companion.