Shohei Ohtani’s historic 50th home run ball has been sold at auction for nearly $4.4 million, setting a new record not only for a baseball, but for any ball in the history of the sport. On Wednesday, Goldin Auctions, the auction house in charge of the sale, confirmed the final price of the iconic item.

Ohtani, star of the Los Angeles Dodgers, reached this historic milestone on September 19 when he hit his second of three home runs in a game against the Marlins. In doing so, he became the first player in baseball history to hit 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.

THE GLOBAL IMPORTANCE OF THE HOME RUN

The auction, which began Sept. 27 with an opening bid of $500,000, closed shortly after midnight Wednesday. “We received bids from all over the world, demonstrating the importance of this collectible and Ohtani’s impact on the sport,” said Ken Goldin, CEO of Goldin Auctions, in a statement. However, the identity of the buyer was not disclosed.

The success of the auction reflects the worldwide interest in Ohtani, whose rise in the Major Leagues has captured the attention of fans and collectors from around the world. The combination of his skills as a hitter and pitcher has been key to his impact.

LITIGATION OVER POSSESSION OF THE BALL

Despite the success of the auction, the process has been mired in legal disputes over ownership of the ball. Christian Zacek left Miami’s LoanDepot Park with the ball, but Max Matus and Joseph Davidov have filed lawsuits alleging that they were the first to have it in their possession.

In his lawsuit, Matus claims that he, who was celebrating his 18th birthday, was the first to get the ball before Zacek took it from him. Davidov, for his part, claims that he picked up the ball with his left hand when it was on the ground, securing his possession.

THE CURRENT CONTEXT FOR OHTANI AND THE DODGERS

Meanwhile, Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are preparing for Game 1 of the World Series, which is scheduled for Friday night. With this historic sellout, the attention on Ohtani continues to grow, both on and off the field, at a pivotal time in his career.

The outcome of the litigation over ownership of the ball has yet to be resolved, but the agreement to proceed with the auction allowed the historic sale to come to fruition.