Attorneys for 18-year-old baseball fan, Max Matus, filed a lawsuit against Goldin Auctions and the man who ended up with Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run baseball, disputing who rightfully possessed the ball in the stands.
In addition to the lawsuit, Matus’ attorneys filed an emergency temporary injunction to prevent the auction of Ohtani’s home run baseball by Goldin.
The suit argued Matus, the plaintiff who attended the Sept. 19 record-setting game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park, was the first person to possess the ball after it landed in the outfield stands. Per the lawsuit, Matus grabbed the ball with his left hand, but Chris Belanski, one of the defendants, wrapped his legs around Matus’ arm and wrangled the ball out of his hand.
The suit also referenced a video posted to X of the moment the baseball landed in the stands. Belanski and Matus tussled before Belanski got full control of the ball and waved it in the air.
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According to the lawsuit, Belanski indicated on social media he intended to sell Ohtani’s home run baseball. Since then, Goldin Auctions has acquired the baseball and announced it will auction off the ball beginning Friday. Bidding starts at $500,000.
Matus is seeking civil damages in excess of $50,000.
“Matus has suffered irreparable harm because of the nature of the unique, irreplaceable 50/50 Ball,” the lawsuit said. “Ohtani is currently the best baseball player in the country, and this ball represents a new record established by Ohtani. As a result, there is no adequate remedy at law that can replace this unique and extraordinary 50/50 Ball. Max is entitled to injunctive relief to preserve the status quo by enjoining the 50/50 Ball from being sold or altered to prevent irreparable injury.”
On Sept. 19, Ohtani made history by slugging three home runs (his 49th, 50th and 51st of the season) against the Marlins to become the first member of the the 50-50 club (50 home runs and 50 steals in the same season).
Ohtani’s 50th home run came in the seventh inning on a Mike Baumann curveball that soared into the bar in left field at loanDepot Park.
“We are aware of the case that has been filed,” Goldin said in a statement to The Athletic. “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. While Goldin has been named as a party in the case, there are no allegations of wrongdoing by the company.”
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(Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
