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Teen says Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball was stolen from him. He files lawsuit to stop auction
LA Times ^ | 09/26/2024 | Chuck Schilken

Posted on 10/08/2024 5:33:42 PM PDT by simpson96

A lawsuit by a high school senior has been filed to prevent the sale of Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball, which was scheduled to go up for auction Friday with a starting bid at $500,000.

Max Matus, an 18-year-old resident of Broward County, Fla., filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court stating that he is the rightful owner of the ball (snip)

Matus is seeking an injunction preventing the three defendants — Goldin Auctions LLC, and Florida residents Chris Belanski and Kelvin Ramirez — from “transferring, encumbering, selling, or concealing the 50/50 Ball.”

In addition to ownership of the historic ball, Matus is seeking actual and compensatory damages.

Matus was attending the game on his 18th birthday with his father. Ohtani went six for six with three home runs, 10 runs batted in and two steals as the Dodgers claimed a 20-4 victory. The second home run hit by the Japanese star was his 50th and made him the first MLB player to have 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.

Matus was in the left-center field stands when the ball cleared the wall and, according to the lawsuit, “was able to firmly grab the ball in his left hand, successfully obtaining possession of the 50/50 Ball.”

The suit goes on to state: “However, shortly after [Matus] obtained possession, Defendant Belanski wrapped his legs around Max’s arm and used his hands to wrangle the ball out of Max’s hand, stealing the ball for himself. This interaction between Max and Defendant Belanski was captured on video by multiple fans who were at the game.”

In addition to the count for injunctive relief — which was filed against all the defendants — counts of conversion, trespass to chattel and battery were filed against Belanski.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Sports
KEYWORDS: auction; baseball; thief; thievery

Kid in the red jersey had the ball, then the other guy grabbed the kid's hand and put it between his legs so he could wrestle the ball away.

1 posted on 10/08/2024 5:33:42 PM PDT by simpson96
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To: simpson96

pic on the right kinda says it all


2 posted on 10/08/2024 5:35:30 PM PDT by xoxox
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To: simpson96

Hope the kid wins.


3 posted on 10/08/2024 5:36:23 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: simpson96
Ohtani went six for six with three home runs, 10 runs batted in and two steals

Good grief. And this guy used to be a damn good pitcher too. We haven't seen anything like this since Babe Ruth.
4 posted on 10/08/2024 5:37:57 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: simpson96

I think I finally see what’s happening. The struggle is underneath the chairs. Replay rules apply, no undeniable view exists to reverse the call, play stands as called on the field. possession is 90% of the law


5 posted on 10/08/2024 5:53:06 PM PDT by sopo
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To: simpson96

Dodgers are very selfish


6 posted on 10/08/2024 6:02:44 PM PDT by bobrlbob
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To: simpson96

7 posted on 10/08/2024 6:03:26 PM PDT by hole_n_one
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To: simpson96

What a nasty creep! “...shortly after [Matus] obtained possession, Defendant Belanski wrapped his legs around Max’s arm and used his hands to wrangle the ball out of Max’s hand,”


8 posted on 10/08/2024 6:04:40 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (May the soy boys, feminazis, and alphabet weirdos choke on the toxic fumes of our masculinity)
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To: hole_n_one

Looks like the woman was darn close to catching it in her tee-shirt!


9 posted on 10/08/2024 6:05:53 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (May the soy boys, feminazis, and alphabet weirdos choke on the toxic fumes of our masculinity)
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To: simpson96

Old news.


10 posted on 10/08/2024 6:21:40 PM PDT by TexasGator (FIXED! I)
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To: simpson96

In my whole life of going to ball games I only got 1 baseball in the stands. It was in Cleveland and late in the season and so the crowd was sparse and a foul ball bounced near me and I was quick enough to grab it. I thought wow finally a baseball but on reflection after thinking I gave it to a little girl with her dad sitting next to me. He thanked me and she was thrilled. I said hey she is the future.


11 posted on 10/08/2024 7:02:06 PM PDT by xp38
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To: simpson96

Cut the ball in half.


12 posted on 10/08/2024 7:13:27 PM PDT by The Louiswu (Pray for Peace in the world.)
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To: simpson96

I hope the boy wins.

That was a D move.


13 posted on 10/08/2024 8:09:59 PM PDT by TheWriterTX (🇺🇸✝️🙏🇮🇱)
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To: simpson96
I was at a baseball game this season with a companion, sitting about 20 rows behind the 1st baseline dugout, when a foul ball came our way. My companion had a pretzel in one hand and a drink in the other when the ball bounced right next to us in empty seats in our row. The ball was rolling towards us but my companion couldn't reach for it when some guy in the row behind us lunged over our seats and grabbed the ball from between our legs.

-PJ

14 posted on 10/08/2024 8:26:04 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: Political Junkie Too

I always think that you should let the kids get the ball. If I caught one, I’d give it away to a kid sitting near me.


15 posted on 10/08/2024 8:31:24 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dfwgator
I agree. The ball means nothing to me. The guy behind me wasn't a kid. I gave him the "side eye" afterwards and he later moved his seat.

-PJ

16 posted on 10/08/2024 8:35:17 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: simpson96

Assault too, the jerk.

Surprised the crowd did not police that themselves.

What a dumb ass the jerk is to try to sell it right off, otherwise it might have been hard to find him.

It is grand larceny also, though, maybe no statute of limits, but best to address this hard and right away like the kid and family are doing.


17 posted on 10/08/2024 8:41:24 PM PDT by Weirdad (Orthodox Americanism: It's what's good for the world! (Not communifascism!))
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To: simpson96

This would never happen in Japan .


18 posted on 10/08/2024 9:01:14 PM PDT by sushiman
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To: hole_n_one

Geesh. EVERY time my husband and I are at a baseball game or hockey game — and we end up with a ball or puck — if there are any little kids around, hubby gives a kid the ball or puck.


19 posted on 10/08/2024 9:06:09 PM PDT by nutmeg
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To: nutmeg

As it should be.


20 posted on 10/09/2024 9:53:35 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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