Looks like the Yankees’ bad memories aren’t fading anytime soon. First, the Dodgers were trolling the Pinstripes for their playoff shortcomings, and now, they’re cashing in on it. The World Series champs recently held an auction for the ball tied to Aaron Judge, or more specifically, that infamous dropped ball—the 2x MVP made a misplay in the postseason that led directly to the Yankees’ World Series loss.

It was a brutal moment for the captain, but hey, in the world of collectibles, every piece of history has its value. Now, here’s the big question: How high can the price of this ball go? Maybe this time, unlike Judge, someone can hang on to it. All proceeds from this auction will benefit the Dodgers Foundation, which supports a variety of causes in the community. So, seems like it’s making the Dodgers win in more ways than one, isn’t it? 

The infamous ball gets huge bids   

From Babe Ruth’s shirts to Shohei Ohtani’s 50/50 ball, fans just want to get their hands on historically significant items. Naturally, Aaron Judge’s dropped ball garnered immense interest. But no one would have guessed that a bid that started at $100 would eventually sell for over 400% of its price! Surprising, right? The Dodgers may have hit the third-most costly ball of the season with this one. The ball from the walk-off grand slam that Freeman hit in Game 1 of the World Series is currently at a high offer of $600,000, whereas Shohei Ohtani’s 50-50 ball sold for $4.4 million at auction in October. 

However, the ball from Freddie Freeman‘s legendary Grand Slam had a long trip before it ended up at auction. The ball was launched into the seats at Dodger Stadium after Freeman’s clutch shot sent it through a ton of people. Zach Ruderman, age ten, however, had a clear advantage. Zach had it, claiming a moment that would never be forgotten, especially by a young admirer. That ball is now going to auction, where its worth is only likely to increase. However, these balls are reminders of a happy time, whereas the Aaron Judge ball is a reminder of the careless mishap. 

It’s getting hard to forget what Aaron Judge did in Game 5 

It is rare for an MVP to be both praised and relentlessly trolled at the same time. That’s the odd thing Judge is facing right now. On one hand, his regular season performance was Barry Bonds level, a historic run that had Yankees fans dreaming of October glory. But then, bam! His postseason was a complete disaster. And now, the Dodgers might’ve just immortalized what could be the low point of Judge’s 2024 season: that infamous dropped ball.

After an auction, the ball in question has sold for a historic $43K. But why is this ball so valuable? Well, this isn’t just any old souvenir; this is the ball that may have directly led to the Dodgers’ World Series win. Let’s break it down: In that crucial Game 5, Judge had a routine fly ball that should’ve been an easy out. But in what could only be described as a nightmare moment for the Yankees, Judge misjudged it, allowing the Dodgers to capitalize. 

That drop led to a series of mistakes, turning the tide and handing the Dodgers a game they’d go on to win. As a result, the Yankees were eliminated, and the Dodgers won. If you listen to Stephen A. Smith, the Yankees might’ve lost out on Soto because of Judge’s postseason meltdown. Whether that’s true or not is up for debate, but one thing’s for sure: despite that disaster, Judge remains one of the best players in the game. He may have dropped the ball (literally), but the bigger picture is that he’s still Aaron Judge.