Shohei Ohtani's historic 50th home run ball sells for nearly $4.4 million at auction

Shohei Ohtani's 50th home run ball has sold for nearly $4.4 million at auction, setting a record for any sports ball. Ohtani made history by becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. The auction began on September 27 with a starting bid of $500,000 and closed just after midnight on Wednesday. The auctioneer, Goldin Auctions, did not reveal the identity of the winning bidder. The auction was complicated by ongoing lawsuits over the ball's ownership. Christian Zacek claims he took the ball from the stands, while Max Matus and Joseph Davidov assert they had possession first. All parties agreed to let the auction proceed.