A US auction house says a Taiwanese company has won the bid for Otani Shohei‘s historic 50th home run ball. The Japanese superstar became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
Goldin Auctions CEO Ken Goldin announced the ball’s new owner in a video posted to social media on Friday.
Tuesday’s winning bid of $4.392 million was the highest in home run ball history and sparked speculation as to the identity of the buyer.
Goldin said, “A lot of people think baseball is going to Japan. This is wrong”. He said that a corporation in Taiwan that loves baseball and Otani won the auction.
He would not disclose the company’s name, adding that it would be revealed privately when company representatives visit Goldin Auctions shortly after the World Series.
Taiwanese media reported that the buyer was a Taipei-based investment firm. They said the company intends to launch the ball in collaboration with various organizations in Japan and Taiwan.
