Fan Files Lawsuit to Halt Auction of Shohei Ohtani 50th Home Run Ball
A civil lawsuit has been filed by a fan claiming to be the rightful owner of Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball, seeking to prevent its scheduled auction, according to court documents.
Max Matus, 18, initiated legal action on Thursday in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court, requesting a temporary injunction against Goldin Auctions, which had planned to open bidding on the ball this Friday.
The lawsuit also names Chris Belanski and Kelvin Ramirez, alleging that Belanski “wrongfully and forcefully” took possession of the ball from Matus in the stadium stands. Additionally, the suit claims that Belanski and Ramirez have indicated their intentions on social media to sell the ball.
In a statement to ESPN, Goldin Auctions acknowledged the case but expressed its intention to proceed with the auction. “We are aware of the case that has been filed,” the company said. “Having reviewed the allegations and images included in the lawsuit, and publicly available video from the game, Goldin plans to go live with the auction of the Ohtani 50/50 ball.”
Goldin further clarified that while it had been named in the lawsuit, there were no allegations of misconduct against the company. The auction is scheduled to commence with an opening bid of $500,000.
Attempts to reach Matus, Belanski, and Ramirez for comment were unsuccessful.
Footage of the ball landing in the stands has circulated on social media. According to the lawsuit, on September 19, Matus was attending a game at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, to celebrate his 18th birthday. He was recording the matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins when Ohtani hit his 50th home run. Matus claims he was positioned near the left-field fence when the ball came his way, and he successfully caught it with his left hand, intending to keep it.
The lawsuit alleges that a “muscular, older man” then trapped Matus’ arm “between his legs” and wrestled the ball from his grip. Matus contends that he was the rightful owner of the ball before it was “forcefully taken” by Belanski.
The suit argues that if the defendants are allowed to proceed with the sale of the ball, Matus would suffer “irreparable harm” as the item is “one-of-a-kind” and cannot be replaced. It further states that once sold, Matus may not be able to recover the ball, and monetary compensation would not suffice.
The lawsuit seeks to have the ball placed in a mutually agreed secure location pending the litigation’s outcome. A hearing on the matter has yet to be scheduled.