The fate of Shohei Ohtani’s 50/50 Ball is still uncertain

The fate of Shohei Ohtani’s 50/50 Ball is still uncertain.

MIAMI, Florida (NV) – The story of the fate of Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run has become more complicated as another person has claimed legal ownership of the historic ball, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Joseph Davidov, a 32-year-old resident of Broward County, Florida, filed a lawsuit in the 11th Judicial District Court in Florida on Friday, September 27, claiming he is the rightful owner of the home run the Dodgers hit on September 19 against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park.

Davidov is seeking ownership of the unique ball, asking the court to issue an injunction that would prohibit the four defendants — Goldin Auctions LLC and Florida residents Chris Belanski, Kelvin Ramirez and Max Matus — from selling the ball, and to award more than $50,000 in damages.

 

The historic MLB 50-50 ball that Shohei Ohtani hit on June 19, 2024 (Photo: Goldin Auctions LLC)

“We believe [Davidov] is the rightful owner of the ball based on the fact that he had the ball first,” attorney Devon Workman told the Los Angeles Times on Monday.

The seventh-inning home run made Ohtani the first MLB player to hit 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. The crowd fought for the ball in the left-center bleachers, and a fan identified as Belanski grabbed it. He was immediately escorted out of the stadium by security.

The ball is being auctioned by Goldin Auctions. As of Monday morning, bidding was at $1.2 million with 13 bids. The auction is scheduled to end on October 16.

The lawsuit states that Davidov was the first person to gain possession of the ball.

“Immediately after Plaintiff caught the 50/50 Ball with his left hand, an unknown spectator jumped over the railing, landed on his arm, and struck Plaintiff, forcing Plaintiff to release the 50/50 Ball, which was then caught by Defendant Chris Belanski,” the lawsuit states.

Workman told the Los Angeles Times that the dispute is similar to the 2001 Barry Bonds 73rd home run dispute, in which two spectators — Alex Popov and Patrick Hayashi — claimed ownership of the historic ball. A California Superior Court judge found that both men were the rightful owners and ordered them to sell the ball and split the proceeds.

“It is clear that my client was assaulted while he was holding the 50/50 Ball, that is my view. At that point, he was the legal owner. So that is the only difference, I am afraid, between the other claims; the fact is that my client was assaulted in the stands, by someone who was on top of him.”

Footage from the stands showed Davidov, wearing a blue and white striped shirt, smiling and shaking Belanski’s hand after Belanski grabbed the ball. Workman attributed the action to “adrenaline, because of the excitement.”

“Davidov shares the joy of all the spectators,” Workman said of his client.

On Wednesday, Matus filed a lawsuit against Belanski, Ramirez and Goldin Auctions, claiming ownership of the ball and seeking to block the sale. The next day, Matus filed a temporary restraining order to temporarily block the auction, which was scheduled for Friday, pending the outcome of the lawsuit.

Judge Spencer Eig stayed the motion until the October 10 hearing, allowing the auction to begin as scheduled but noted that the defendants cannot “sell, conceal, or otherwise transfer the 50/50 Ball pending the Court’s determination of Plaintiff’s Motion.”

According to Matus’ lawsuit, the 18-year-old senior was in possession of the ball until Belanski “pinned Max’s arm with his foot and used his hand to wrest the ball from Max’s hand, wilfully stealing the ball.” Matus’ lawsuit also states that Ramirez “attended the game with Defendant Belanski and (falsely) claimed ownership of the 50/50 Ball on social media.”

The Los Angeles Times was unable to reach Belanski or Ramirez. Matus’ attorney did not immediately return messages sent to the newspaper on Monday.