Max Matus, a passionate 18-year-old baseball enthusiast, has found himself in the midst of a legal tussle aiming to put the brakes on an upcoming auction. The item in question is none other than Shohei Ohtani’s monumental 50th home run ball, a prized possession anticipated to kick off bidding at a staggering $500,000.
The clash emerged after Matus initiated a lawsuit in Florida to prevent the auction of the coveted baseball. His contention revolves around the claim that the ball, currently under the ownership of fellow fan Chris Belanski, was unlawfully snatched from him during a gripping game at loanDepot Park in Miami on September 19. The lawsuit, which also implicates Belanski’s acquaintance Kelvin Ramirez, asserts that Matus had initially secured possession of the ball before a forceful intervention by Belanski allegedly resulted in its snatch.
Detailing the incident, Matus recounted how, during a special outing to mark his 18th birthday at the game, he had firmly clasped the ball with his left hand only to have it wrested away by Belanski’s interference. Seeking retribution, Matus is now pushing to halt the auction and secure the ball in a secure location agreeable to all stakeholders until legal deliberations conclude.
Despite Matus’s legal endeavors, Goldin Auctions, the reputable New Jersey-based auction house overseeing the sale, stands firm on proceeding with the auction as planned. A setback for Matus came in the form of a Miami judge’s denial of his plea for a temporary restraining order to halt the auction, allowing the event to progress unimpeded.
Outlining their stance, Goldin Auctions issued a statement to ESPN, affirming, “We are cognizant of the filed case. After assessing the contentions and imagery put forth in the lawsuit, along with publicly accessible game footage, Goldin is poised to initiate the auction for the Ohtani 50/50 ball.”
The legal saga is far from over, as Matus’s legal representatives are granted the opportunity to present their case before the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County before the auction’s culmination on October 16. Should their efforts bear fruit, Matus stands to gain a slice of the proceeds generated from the ball’s sale.
Ken Goldin, the CEO of Goldin Auctions, divulged that Belanski swiftly aligned with them the day following Ohtani’s groundbreaking game to arrange the auction. Reports from Fox Sports 640’s Andy Slater unveiled that despite an enticing $300,000 offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Belanski opted for the thrill of the auction instead.
The auction launch entails an enticing “buy-it-now” price tag of $4.5 million, valid through October 9. Should bids soar to $3 million before the stipulated date, the buy-it-now alternative will be removed, paving the way for continued bidding until October 16.
As the auction unfurls, Matus’s legal turmoil introduces a captivating layer to the narrative of one of the year’s most momentous sports memorabilia transactions. With collectors, baseball aficionados, and legal pundits alike eagerly monitoring the unfolding spectacle, the showdown over Ohtani’s iconic home run ball kicks into high gear.
