The baseball hit by Shohei Ohtani, which made him the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season, is going to auction.

The collectibles platform Goldin announced on Wednesday that it has received this highly sought-after ball, and bidding is expected to start on Friday.

Ohtani achieved this milestone on Thursday during a game against the Miami Marlins. The historic home run sent the crowd at loanDepot Park into a frenzy, with numerous fans scrambling to catch the ball. It was one of Ohtani’s standout performances, hitting six times, including three home runs, stealing two bases, and driving in ten runs during a 20-4 victory.

Goldin stated that the individual who retrieved the ball was taken care of by ballpark security and had the ball verified. Although the fan, whose identity remains unknown but is visible in videos, was initially offered $300,000 according to Andy Slater from Fox Sports 640, he turned down the offer. Within a week, the ball found its way to Goldin.

“Ohtani is truly one of a kind, and this 50-50 record may be his greatest accomplishment. We’re excited to present this significant item to collectors. This represents a piece of baseball history that will be remembered by fans and scholars globally for many years,” Ken Goldin, the founder and CEO of Goldin, expressed in a statement.

Expected Price of Shohei Ohtani’s 50/50 Home Run Ball

Bidding for the ball will start at $500,000 on Goldin’s website at 12 p.m. ET on September 29. Alternatively, prospective buyers can privately acquire the ball for $4.5 million. The private purchase option will be available from the opening of bidding until October 9. However, if bids reach $3 million on or before October 9, the option for private purchase will be removed.

Extended bidding will take place starting at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 16.

The final selling price of the ball remains uncertain, but it has the chance to become the most expensive baseball ever sold. The current record sits at $3.05 million, set for Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball in 1999, which was purchased by comic book artist Todd McFarlane. Following this, the second-highest price was $1.5 million for Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run ball in 2022, which broke the American League record.