18-year-old files lawsuit over ownership of Shohei Ohtani’s historic 50-50 ball, seeks to prevent auction

An 18-year-old, Max Matus, has filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of the historic baseball that Shohei Ohtani hit to achieve membership in the exclusive 50-50 club, marking a significant milestone in baseball history. On September 19, Ohtani made headlines by hitting his 50th home run and stealing his 50th base during a spectacular 20-4 victory against the Miami Marlins.

The ball, which is now at the center of a legal dispute, was put up for auction by Goldin Auctions. Bidding for the ball began at $500,000, with a private purchase option set at an astounding $4.5 million. The auction is scheduled to start at noon ET on Friday and will run until October 16. In light of this, Matus is seeking a “temporary injunction” through a lawsuit filed in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court to prevent the ball from being sold or concealed.

According to the lawsuit, Matus attended the Dodgers vs. Marlins game to celebrate his 18th birthday and claims he caught the historic ball. However, moments later, he alleges that another attendee, Chris Belanski—one of the three defendants named in the lawsuit—“trapped” Matus’s arm and forcibly took the ball from him. The filing asserts that Belanski was assisted by Kelvin Ramirez and that security escorted Belanski out of the stands with the ball in his possession.

The legal complaint includes screenshots and video evidence purportedly showing Belanski ripping the ball from Matus’s grasp, raising concerns about the nature of how the ball was obtained. Both Belanski and Ramirez have expressed intentions to sell the ball on social media, according to the lawsuit.

When asked for comment, representatives for Matus confirmed his claim, stating, “I had the ball in my hand.” Matus’s attorney, John Uustal, emphasized the legal implications of the incident, noting, “This is not some scrum on a football field where the law doesn’t apply. In the stands, once someone has the ball, it’s not legal for someone to take it.” He added that Matus, a high school student celebrating his birthday, should not have been overpowered by an adult in such a manner.

The lawsuit further claims that if the ball is sold, Matus would suffer “irreparable harm” as it is a “unique one-of-a-kind item that cannot be replaced.” Matus’s legal team argues that no amount of monetary compensation would be adequate if he were to lose ownership of the historic ball.

The situation draws parallels to the infamous case of Barry Bonds’ record-breaking 73rd home run ball in 2001. In that instance, Alex Popov was the first to touch the ball after it landed in the stands but later lost it in a scuffle with Patrick Hayashi, who emerged with the ball. Their dispute resulted in a legal battle that concluded with a judge ordering the two men to sell the ball and split the proceeds, which ultimately went to comic book creator Todd McFarlane for $450,000.

As the auction for Ohtani’s ball approaches, the outcome of Matus’s lawsuit could have significant implications for how ownership of such memorabilia is handled in the future. It raises questions about the rights of fans in the stands and what constitutes lawful possession of game-related items.

With the auction looming, Matus remains determined to assert his claim to the historic ball. Whether the courts will side with him or allow the auction to proceed will likely hinge on the interpretation of sports memorabilia ownership rights, particularly in chaotic situations involving fan interactions.

As the legal proceedings unfold, baseball fans and collectors alike will be watching closely, aware that this case may set important precedents in the realm of sports memorabilia. The implications of this lawsuit could shape the future landscape for collectors and fans, reminding everyone that even in the world of sports, ownership and legality can be as complex as the game itself.