Second fan files lawsuit over possession of Ohtani's 50/50 ball

Last September 19 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Shohei Ohtani made history in the Major Leagues after hitting his 50th home run of the season that made him inaugurate the 50/50 club (stealing at least 50 bases and dispatching at least 50 home runs in a season).

The ball from this historic home run fell into the big balls at the Miami venue and was captured by a fan named Chris Belanski. Who was escorted out of the stadium with the ball, since it is estimated that it is worth millions of dollars.

A few days after Belanski, who was accompanied by Kelvin Ramírez, caught Ohtani’s home run ball. He handed it over to the auction company. Goldin Auctions to put the historic home run ball up for auction and which started with a base price of $500,000 dollars.

However, it didn’t take long for another fan named Max Matus to file a lawsuit against Belanski claiming that he was the original owner of the ball.

Matus and his lawyers claim that Belanski and Ramírez “illegally and forcibly” obtained Matus’ ball in the stands. This lawsuit created great controversy around the ball, but the auction company responded to the lawsuit with a statement.

But if this were not enough, a second lawsuit was recently filed regarding possession of the ball from Ohtani’s 50/50 home run. This time by Joseph Davidov who stated in a Florida Court that he was able to “firmly and completely grasp the ball with his left hand while it was on the ground, successfully obtaining 50/50 possession of the ball.”

“An unknown fan unfairly jumped over the railing, jumped on Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s arm, and attacked Plaintiff causing the 50/50 ball to come loose and roll into Defendant Chris Belanski’s hands,” Joseph continues in his lawsuit.

Furthermore, Davidov names in the lawsuit all those previously involved. Even to the auction company Goldin Auctionsfrom whom, in addition to the ball, he demands compensation of $50,000 dollars.

Keep reading:
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“Original” owner of Ohtani’s 50/50 ball files lawsuit against auction house