It’s very rare that a fortune comes your way at triple-digit speed. But that’s exactly what happened to Jason Patino on April 21.
This lucky fan was in the right place at the right time as Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani hit his historic 176th career home run into the right field stands at Dodger Stadium.
Patino caught the ball that helped Ohtani break the record for most home runs by a Japanese-born MLB player. His milestone home run surpassed the record held by former New York Yankees star Hideki Matsui. Ohtani’s total MLB home runs has since risen to 206, breaking the previous record.
The historic home run contributed to the Dodgers’ dominant 10-0 home win over the New York Mets. In that game, Ohtani had two RBIs, five total bases, two runs and a walk.
The home run ball features official MLB logos and a holographic authentication sticker, according to TMZ.com. There is also a handwritten “E” on the ball, but it has not been revealed who wrote it or what its significance is.
Although Patino initially said he would keep the historic home run ball for himself, he has now decided to auction it off. But who can blame him? According to Heritage Auctions, the company through which Patino is selling the ball, the memorabilia is expected to sell for around $200,000.
This wouldn’t be the first time Ohtani memorabilia has been auctioned off for a lucrative price. Back in May, a worn jersey from the four-time MLB All-Star sold for $100,000, according to Dodgers Nation.
Even items Ohtani never used or wore can attract deep-pocketed customers. In addition to the six-figure price tag for his worn jersey, a highlight of Ohtani’s first bobblehead night with the Dodgers was May.
After drawing the largest crowd in five years during the regular season and at an MLB game of the season, it was a struggle for fans to get their hands on one of the Ohtani figures, especially the limited-edition version in the gray uniform. When they did, the rare collectibles sold for as much as $2,300.
Patino and Heritage Auctions will begin the auction on August 23. The ball will have a starting bid of $50,000, but is expected to quadruple by the end of the auction. It will be interesting to see how much the historic ball will sell for.
