MIAMI (AP) — A legal battle has ensued over the possession of Shohei Ohtani's 50th home run ball, with a second fan filing a lawsuit claiming ownership of the historic baseball. The latest suit was filed in Florida's 11th Judicial Circuit Court by a fan named Joseph Davidov, naming Chris Belanski, Kelvin Ramirez, Max Matus, and Goldin Auctions as defendants.
Ohtani made history by becoming the first player in baseball to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases, achieving the milestone on Sept. 19 during a game in Miami against the Marlins. The bidding for the baseball through Goldin Auctions has reached $1.464 million, but a formal sale is pending a hearing scheduled for Oct. 10 due to legal proceedings.
Davidov's lawsuit claims that he firmly grabbed the ball on the ground with his left hand, asserting his rightful possession of the 50/50 ball. He alleges that another fan interfered, causing the ball to roll into the hands of Chris Belanski. Davidov is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 for the incident.
The initial lawsuit, filed by Max Matus, a Florida resident celebrating his 18th birthday, contends that he initially had possession of the Ohtani ball before it was taken by Belanski. Matus' attorney plans to present video evidence of the ball scramble in the stands during the upcoming hearing.
The lawsuit states that Matus successfully grabbed the ball but was later overpowered by Belanski, who forcibly took the ball from him. The legal dispute over the ownership of Ohtani's milestone baseball continues to unfold, with both fans vying for the valuable piece of sports memorabilia.
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