Ohtani’s 50th Home Run Ball at Center of Unprecedented Legal Battle as Second Fan Files Lawsuit – Can You Guess Where? Miami, of Course
The claim to Shohei Ohtani’s potentially lucrative 50th home run ball has become more complicated, with a second fan joining the legal battle this week. Joseph Davidov has filed a lawsuit in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court, claiming he had possession of the historic baseball before it was taken from him.
Davidov’s suit names Chris Belanski, Kelvin Ramirez, Max Matus, and Goldin Auctions as defendants. Belanski, who left the stadium with the ball, is at the center of the dispute. Matus — who filed the first lawsuit last week — and Ramirez are also claiming ownership.
Historic Achievement and Auction Drama
Shohei Ohtani made baseball history by hitting his 50th home run and becoming the first player to achieve 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season. The homer, hit during a game against the Miami Marlins, set off a frenzy for the ball, which is currently fetching a bid of $1.464 million at Goldin Auctions.
However, due to a court ruling related to Matus’ initial lawsuit, the ball cannot be sold until a hearing on October 10.
Davidov’s Lawsuit
Davidov alleges in his lawsuit that he firmly gripped the ball in his left hand while it was on the ground, thus securing possession of the “50/50 ball” — a reference to Ohtani’s 50th home run and 50th stolen base. The lawsuit claims an unidentified fan jumped over a railing and onto Davidov, causing the ball to roll into the hands of defendant Chris Belanski.
Davidov is seeking more than $50,000 in damages, citing the potential value of the ball and emotional distress from the incident.
Matus’ Competing Claim
Max Matus, a Florida resident celebrating his 18th birthday at the game, is also claiming ownership of the ball. Matus contends that he initially grabbed the ball before Belanski took it. The lawsuit alleges that Belanski, described as a “muscular older man,” trapped Matus’ arm and forcibly took the ball from his hand.
Matus’ attorney plans to present video evidence of the scuffle over the ball at the upcoming October 10 hearing.
High Stakes Battle for the 50/50 Ball
With multiple fans claiming ownership and a potential sale price of $1.5 million, the legal battle over Ohtani’s historic 50th home run ball continues to escalate. As both sides prepare for the October 10 hearing, the future of the valuable ball — and its million-dollar price tag — remains uncertain, heightening the tension surrounding this unprecedented case.