The fan w ho wound up with the ball reportedly turned down the team’s immediate offer of $300,000. Video and images from the scene in LoanDepot Park’s left field stands showed a mob scramble for the ball, with views of the bottom of the dogpile obstructed. According to a new lawsuit, however, the dash for that pricey baseball may have been more tense than initially thought.
Shohei Ohtani receives a standing ovation after becoming the first player in Major League Baseball history to reach 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season on Sept. 19, 2024. (Getty Images)
Max Matus, 18, and his lawyers filed the suit in Dade County, Florida, claiming that he possessed the ball before the fan who ultimately left the stadium with it. That fan, named in the suit as Chris Belanski, is selling it through the well-known auction house, Goldin.
The MLB-authenticated 50th home run ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani heads to auction on Sept. 27, 2024. (Goldin)
The lawsuit claims that Matus successfully secured the ball in his left hand before Belanski “wrapped his legs around Max’s arm and used his hands to wrangle the ball out of Max’s hands, stealing the ball for himself,” Rovell reported.
Fan video from the stands at the game didn’t show that specific interaction, though it did show the two men wrestling for the ball, which Belanski eventually won.
The lawsuit aims to stop the auction of the ball until a court determines its rightful owner.
As of Thursday, the ball is still scheduled to go on auction. No additional details on whether the suit would stand were immediately available.
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