A legal battle over ownership of baseball player Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball, currently valued at $1.464 million, is intensifying. Two fans, Max Matus and Joseph Davidov, are both staking claims and have filed lawsuits. While the defendant is Chris Belanski, the supposed current holder of the ball, it cannot legally be sold yet due to a court ruling in response to Matus’ lawsuit.
The second lawsuit was filed by Joseph Davidov in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court. He claims to have held the coveted ball in his left hand before an unknown fan attacked him, causing the ball to roll towards Chris Belanski. Davidov is seeking over $50,000 in damages and maintains that he was the one who initially gained possession of the ball.
The first lawsuit was filed by Max Matus, who claims he captured the ball during his 18th birthday celebration. The allegations state that Belanski, described as a “muscular older man”, forcefully took the ball from his grasp. Matus’ testimony will be supported by video footage showing the scramble for the ball in the stands when his case is presented on 10th October.
The baseball in dispute was hit by Shohei Ohtani on 19th September in a game against the Miami Marlins. Ohtani made history that day by becoming the first-ever baseball player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases during a single season. The uniqueness of this feat is likely contributing to the high auction price for the ball.
The ball cannot be officially auctioned until after the hearing scheduled for 10th October, as stipulated by the court. This limitation resulted from the lawsuit filed by Matus, who accused Belanski, Kelvin Ramirez, Max Matus, and Goldin Auctions of wrongful possession.
The intense court battles reflect the cultural and financial significance of baseball memorabilia, with fans willing to go to great lengths for ownership. The unprecedented abilities of Ohtani have only fueled the desire for this particular ball. It remains to be seen if more fans will come forward with claims of ownership as the October court date approaches.
