Shohei Ohtani made baseball history in unforgettable fashion, becoming the first player ever to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. The defining moment came Thursday evening at Miami’s Marlins Park when Ohtani smashed his second home run of the day, sending the ball over the left-field fence and onto a grassy area in the stands.
What followed was a scramble, as multiple fans lunged for the now priceless piece of sports memorabilia.
Ohtani’s historic blast marked his 50th home run of the season, and the fan lucky enough to retrieve the ball secured more than just a souvenir—he claimed a piece of baseball history that could be worth a small fortune.
The home run ball bounced off a fan in a teal shirt before landing on the ground, prompting a rush. At least two fans dove for the ball, but it was a fan in a dark-colored shirt who emerged with the prize, much to the excitement of the crowd. Cheers erupted as the fan, clutching the ball, was escorted by security personnel out of the stands for safe-keeping.
With Ohtani nearing his 50-home run milestone, Major League Baseball had already begun marking balls with special ink for authentication purposes. The value of such a ball is expected to be sky-high.
The demand for Ohtani’s historic home run ball is expected to be high, especially among collectors in Japan, where Ohtani’s legendary status is even greater than in the U.S. If the fan decides to sell, auction houses suggest acting quickly to maximize the ball’s value.
Though the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani’s team, hoped the ball would land in an area where it could be secured and returned to the player, that wasn’t the case. According to reports, the fan chose to leave the stadium with the ball, opting not to turn it over to the team.
The historic achievement came against the Miami Marlins, a team likely to finish with 100 losses this season. Regardless of the opponent, Ohtani was destined to hit the 50-home run, 50-stolen base milestone. His performance that day was one for the ages: not only did Ohtani hit three home runs, but he also went 6-for-6, drove in 10 runs, and stole two bases. According to MLB researcher Sarah Langs, Ohtani became the first player since 1901 to tally at least five hits, multiple home runs, and multiple stolen bases in a single game.
In every sense, Ohtani’s day was historic, and the fan who walked away with that 50th home run ball now possesses a piece of baseball lore that will be remembered for generations.