Ohtani 50/50 Ball Auctioned for $3.6 Million; Agreement Reached on Ownership
Background of the Ball
During a Los Angeles Angels game between the Angels and the Chicago Cubs on July 28, 2022, Shohei Ohtani hit a double over the head of Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki. The ball landed in the left-field seats, and two fans, Chris Rohling and Kyle Lucy, both claimed to have caught it.The two men agreed to a 50/50 split of the proceeds from the sale of the ball. It was eventually sold at auction for $3.6 million.
Agreement on Ball Ownership
Rohling and Lucy had a verbal agreement to split the proceeds of the sale of the ball 50/50. However, they did not put this agreement in writing.After the ball was sold, Lucy changed his mind and decided that he wanted to keep the ball for himself. He refused to give Rohling half of the proceeds from the sale.
Rohling filed a lawsuit against Lucy, and the two men eventually reached a settlement. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but it is believed that Rohling received a substantial amount of money.
Significance of the Sale
The sale of the Ohtani 50/50 ball is a significant event for several reasons.First, it is the highest price ever paid for a baseball. The previous record was $3.05 million, which was paid for a Mark McGwire home run ball in 1999.
Second, the sale of the ball highlights the growing popularity of Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is one of the most exciting players in baseball, and his memorabilia is highly sought-after by collectors.
Finally, the sale of the ball shows that the market for sports memorabilia is still strong. Despite the economic downturn, collectors are still willing to pay top dollar for rare and unique items.
