Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s 50/50 ball fetches $4.39 million

Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball from this season sold for a record-breaking $4.392 million at auction. This shattered the previous record for the most expensive baseball ever sold, which was Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball from 1998. Ohtani’s ball solidified his historic season as the only player to hit over 50 home runs and steal over 50 bases in a single season. The auction, conducted by Goldin Auctions, attracted bids from around the world and culminated in the highest sale price for any sports ball. Despite ongoing litigation over the ball’s ownership, an agreement was reached that allowed the auction to proceed. The buyer’s identity has not been revealed, and the money from the sale will be held in an account until ownership disputes are resolved. Ohtani and the Dodgers are set to face the New York Yankees in the World Series.