Ohtani's 50-50 home run ball will be auctioned with a starting bid of $500,000

RUNNEMEDE, N.J. (AP) — The baseball that Shohei Ohtani His 50th home run, which gave him 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season, will be auctioned on Friday.

Ohtani became the first player in major league history to join the 50-50 club. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar accomplished the feat last week in Miami.

The fan who caught the milestone ball is working with Goldin, a New Jersey-based auction house that specializes in trading cards, collectibles and memorabilia.

The opening bid for the ball is $500,000. The white leather ball features black scratches and scuffs that have been authenticated by Major League Baseball.

Potential buyers will also have the opportunity to purchase the ball outright for $4.5 million between Friday and October 9. If bidding reaches $3 million before October 9, the option to purchase the ball privately will no longer be available and buyers will have to bid. Extended bidding will begin on October 16.

“Ohtani is truly one of a kind and the 50-50 record could be his crowning achievement,” said Ken Goldin, founder and CEO of the auction house. “This is a piece of baseball history that will be remembered by fans and historians around the world for decades to come.”

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