Shohei Ohtani 50th Home Run Ball Hits Auction Block With Starting Bid Of $500K

The baseball that officially gave Shohei Ohtani an unprecedented 50/50 season has just hit the auction block … but if you don’t have deep pockets, you won’t have a shot at getting it — because its starting bid is $500,000!!

Goldin revealed on Wednesday afternoon it’ll oversee the sale … after the man who caught it earlier this month at the Dodgers vs. Marlins tilt in Miami reached out to the auction experts directly.

The company said in a statement that while the get-in price for the ball is half a mil … fans can purchase it outright for a staggering $4.5 million.

“If bidding reaches $3,000,000 prior to October 9 however,” Goldin officials wrote, “the option to purchase privately will no longer be available, and interested parties must compete and bid for the baseball.”

It’s a whopping sum … although it’s hard to imagine it not being worth it.

After all, it marked the first time in MLB history that a player had reached the 50 home run, 50 stolen base plateau. It’s also got some markings on it that make it really unique.

Check it out — there’s black scuffing on the surface that appears to be from Ohtani’s bat. There’s also numbers “4” and “3” written in pencil on it. Plus, there’s an MLB Authenticated Hologram — proving baseball officials have dubbed it the real deal.

Artifact seekers can officially begin placing their bids on the memento on Friday. Bidding will close later next month.