MIAMI (WSVN) – A Broward County teen is suing a sports auction house and two people after a dispute over Shohei Ohtani’s historic 50th home run ball during a Miami Marlins game.
Max Matus, who was celebrating his 18th birthday on Sept. 19, filed a lawsuit in Miami-Dade County claiming the prized ball was stolen from his hands during the game.
According to the lawsuit, Matus was sitting in left field at LoanDepot Park when Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hit his 50th home run of the season in the seventh inning.
The ball, marking a record-breaking moment in Major League Baseball, was headed directly toward Matus, who successfully caught it, according to the lawsuit. However, Matus alleges that shortly after securing the ball, defendant Chris Belanski forcibly pried it from his hand.
The complaint states that Belsanki wrapped his legs around Matus’s arm and used his hands to wrestle the ball away, an incident captured on video by fans at the game.
Belanski and another defendant, Kelvin Ramirez, reportedly appeared on social media after the game, claiming ownership of the ball and expressing intentions to sell it.
The ball, known as the “50/50 Ball,” is now in the possession of Goldin Auctions, LLC, a sports memorabilia auction house. Goldin Auctions has announced that the ball will be auctioned on Friday with an opening bid of $500,000.
Matus is seeking injunctive relief to prevent the sale of the ball, claiming that he is the rightful owner and that the defendants used force to steal it from him.
The lawsuit accuses Belanski of battery, conversion and trespass to chattel, while also holding Goldin Auctions accountable for allegedly facilitating the sale.
“This was supposed to be an unforgettable birthday for Max, but it turned into an unfortunate altercation,” the lawsuit reads.
Matus claims that the ball is irreplaceable and of significant value due to Ohtani’s record-breaking achievement.
Goldin Auctions founder Ken Goldin appeared in a video posted online, locking the ball in a safe and confirming the upcoming auction.
The lawsuit claims that Matus is entitled to both the ball and damages, while also seeking to halt any attempts to sell it before ownership is determined by the court.
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