MLB Star Shohei Ohtani Makes Waves On The Auction Block From 50/50 Home Run

Shohei Ohtani is winning big on and off the baseball field! The baseball star's autographed card sold for an impressive price at an auction after his incredible career run last year.

This 1-of-1 autographed card, part of Topps' "Dynasty Black" line, features a piece of Ohtani's pants from when he joined the exclusive 50/50 club and boasts a PSA Mint 9 Auto 9 grade.

A highly sought-after Shohei Ohtani baseball card recently set a new auction record, selling for an astounding $1,067,500. Heritage Auctions, which facilitated the sale, revealed the final price following the close of bidding. 

The unique card, reflecting Ohtani's status as an MLB superstar, includes the official MLB patch and is signed with a gold Sharpie.

Chris Ivy, the Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage Auctions, lauded Ohtani's immense impact on baseball, calling him an icon in both the United States and Japan.

He emphasized the rarity of achieving the 50 homers and 50 steals milestone, which is exclusive to Ohtani. The fact that a one-of-a-kind player is honored with a 1-of-1 card underscores its significance.

Per TMZ, Ohtani's memorabilia is known to fetch incredible prices, as evidenced by the sale of his 50/50 ball for $4.3 million.

In addition, his collaborative merchandise with Murakami sold out almost instantly when the Dodgers played in Japan earlier this month, highlighting his immense popularity and influence in the sport.

As shared by The Blast, Ohtani's 50th home run ball created a buzz in the auction world, as it received bids exceeding $2 million, with experts predicting it could reach as high as $10 million by the end of the bidding.

Ken Goldin, an auction expert whose house is managing the sale, believed the ball's value might skyrocket in the final hours due to Ohtani's immense international fame and the historic nature of the game.

He noted that it would not be surprising if some international bidder pushed the price into the eight-figure range. With Ohtani's remarkable season and a dedicated global fanbase, the ball is on track to become a coveted collector's item.

A fortunate baseball fan struck gold by catching Ohtani's record-breaking home run ball last year, which was initially expected to sell for around $300,000. 

David Kohler and his team at SCP Auctions indicated that the ball's auction price could exceed expectations, driven by collector demand. 

Although the identity of the lucky fan remains unknown, it was reported that they consulted with Dodgers officials before opting to keep the prized ball.

During the game, Ohtani's exhilarating journey around the bases heightened the excitement in the stadium, where fans buzzed with energy as his teammates welcomed him at home plate.

The Blast reported that Kardashian faced significant backlash from Dodgers fans after she shared a photo of a custom Ohtani jersey on her Instagram story. 

The post came after the MLB Tokyo Series, during which the Dodgers played, and included tags for Fanatics, the Complete agency, and artist Takashi Murakami, who designed the team's special edition uniforms.

Rather than receiving positive feedback, the post sparked frustration among fans who urged her to stay away from the team. Comments ranged from concerns about the "Kardashian curse" affecting the Dodgers to requests for her to distance herself from the franchise entirely.

Many fans expressed that they did not want any association between Kardashian and the Dodgers, emphasizing that her involvement was unwelcome.

Ohtani's team is also winning on the pitch. The Los Angeles Dodgers officially kicked off their season by sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the MLB Tokyo Series.

The team pulled impressive moves, winning the first game 4-1 and following up with a strong 6-3 victory in the second. Meanwhile, Ohtani thrilled fans with an exceptional performance, hitting 3-for-8 and making two extra-base hits.

His return to Japan was further celebrated with a home run in an exhibition match against the Yomiuri Giants, marking a memorable moment as he donned Dodgers colors on home soil for the first time.