Did you hear about the ball that Shohei Ohtani hit for his historic 50th home run? It’s hitting the auction block, and it’s quite the prize! Ohtani made waves last Thursday, becoming the first player ever to smash 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. Talk about a double threat! Now, the starting bid for this iconic ball is set at $500,000. But there’s an option to snag it for a whopping $4.5 million privately. If someone bites, that would break the current record for a baseball—currently held by Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball from 1998, which sold for $3.05 million. Imagine owning a piece of baseball history like that! What do you think—would you go for it? 

Can you believe what Shohei Ohtani pulled off during that epic game against the Miami Marlins? Not only did he hit his historic 50th home run, but he also delivered one of the best batting performances we’ve ever seen. Oh, and let’s not forget the two stolen bases—bringing his season total to 51 for both homers and steals! His 50th homer, a team record for the Dodgers, came in the seventh inning. The fan who caught it was in for a treat, too. The Dodgers offered him $300,000 for the ball, but he turned them down. Instead, he contacted Goldin auction house the next day and decided to keep his identity under wraps. Smart move? Bold move? “This was one of the easiest [consignments] ever,” Goldin’s founder and chief executive Ken Goldin told ESPN. 

Ohtani has extended his incredible season to 53 home runs and 55 stolen bases, with just five games left in the regular season. And guess what? The Dodgers have already clinched their spot in the playoffs, so Ohtani will be making his postseason debut! Ohtani made history last week as the first player in MLB history to reach 50 homers and 50 steals in a single season. Speaking of historic moments, the ball from Ohtani’s record-setting 50th home run is set to hit the auction block. So the ball is not just a piece of memorabilia; it’s a slice of baseball history! Who wouldn’t want to get their hands on that? Are you feeling tempted to place a bid? 

Shohei Ohtani is unstoppable 

Enough about his expensive homer ball, now, let’s talk about the man himself. Shohei Ohtani really knows how to make history. He achieved that unprecedented 50-50 season on September 19, not just reaching 50 home runs but also 50 steals in the same game. And he’s not done yet! Ohtani continued to impress by hitting two more homers and swiping four additional bases during the Dodgers’ weekend series against the Colorado Rockies. As of Wednesday, he hit his 56th stolen base, tying him with the legendary Ichiro Suzuki for the most stolen bases in a single season by a Japanese-born player.

His pivotal RBI single in the sixth inning put the Dodgers ahead 4-3 in a crucial matchup against the San Diego Padres. That marked the third time he contributed to a go-ahead run. Shotime finished the night 2-for-3 with a run, two RBIs, and a stolen base. Thanks to Ohtani’s efforts, the Dodgers clinched the 4-3 victory, extending their NL West lead over the Padres to three games with just four left to play. They could seal the division title as early as Thursday! After this series, the Dodgers will head to Coors Field to wrap up the season against the Rockies, where the high altitude promises plenty of offensive fireworks.

With just a handful of games left in the season, Ohtani is certainly feeling the pressure to boost those already incredible numbers. Currently sitting at 53 homers and 56 steals, the two-way phenom is on track to finish with 54 homers and 57 stolen bases—truly remarkable. It’s amazing to think about how much he could push those stats even further in these final games. With records falling left and right, who knows what other milestones he might reach before the postseason kicks off. Are you excited to see how this season wraps up? Share in the comments below.