Home Run Hijack: Teen Fan Sues for Ownership of Ohtani’s Historic ’50-50′ Ball
- American media outlet ESPN reported on the 27th (Korean time) that "a fan who claims to be the legal owner of the 50-50 home run ball has filed...
- The person who claims to be the legal owner of the ball is 18-year-old Max Matus.
- Ohtani hit his historic 50th home run in the 7th inning against the Miami Marlins on the 20th.
[스포츠투데이 김경현 기자] While Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers) became the first player in American Major League (MLB) history to hit 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, a lawsuit was filed over ownership of the 50th home run ball, which marked the milestone.
American media outlet ESPN reported on the 27th (Korean time) that “a fan who claims to be the legal owner of the 50-50 home run ball has filed a civil suit to stop the scheduled auction of the ball.”
The person who claims to be the legal owner of the ball is 18-year-old Max Matus. Matus filed a lawsuit in a Florida court and requested a preliminary injunction against the home run ball auction to be held on the 28th. The court ordered that Ohtani’s home run ball auction cannot be held before October 11.
Matus also filed a home run ball ownership lawsuit against Chris Belanski and Kelvin Ramirez. Matus claimed Belanski “unlawfully and forcibly took the ball.” Ramirez announced that he and Belanski plan to sell home run balls through social media.
Ohtani hit his historic 50th home run in the 7th inning against the Miami Marlins on the 20th. With this home run, Ohtani became MLB’s first member of the 50-50 Club.
Ohtani’s 50th home run hit fell near Matus. Matus claimed he “successfully caught” the home run ball with his left hand and showed intent to take it.
But, Matus said, “an older, muscular man (Belansky)” put his arm “between his legs and snatched the home run ball from his left hand.”
Matus insisted he was the legal owner of the ball until he was “forcibly taken from it.”
The home run ball will be safely stored in a location agreed upon by both parties until the outcome of the lawsuit is announced.
Meanwhile, the 50-50 home run ball is reportedly worth at least $1 million (about 1.3 billion won). The minimum bid for the home run ball auction scheduled to be held on the 28th was $500,000 (about 670 million won), and if you offer $4.5 million (about 6 billion won), you can purchase it without competition.
[스포츠투데이 김경현 기자 sports@stoo.com]
[주요기사]