Sports

Ohtani’s 1st World Series home run baseball, hit at Toronto’s Rogers Centre, up for auction

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Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning in Game 1 of baseball's World Series, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Toronto. (SCP Auctions/AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

The first ever World Series home run ball hit by Major League Baseball two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is now up for auction.

Ohtani hit his first career World Series home run on Oct. 24, 2025 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto in Game 1 of the 2025 championship between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays.

“There are baseballs, and then there are artifacts that belong to history,” the listing on SCP Auctions reads. “(The) official Rawlings baseball Shohei Ohtani hit for his first career World Series home run... is among the most significant game-used baseballs of the modern era.”

The ball itself is an official Rawlings 2025 World Series baseball bearing the “Official Ball 2025 World Series” designation and Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr.’s manufactured signature between the seams, alongside the 2025 World Series logo in navy blue.

SCP Auctions says Ohtani’s first career World Series home run was caught by “lifelong Blue Jays fan” Saajan Hopton.

Hopton told the auctioneer that he was watching Game 1 in one of the standing-room only sections of the ballpark. He said when the ball off Ohtani’s bat made it into the stands in the right field corner, it deflected off another fan’s hand, and fell at Hopton’s feet, allowing him to reach down and grab it.

ohtani Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during seventh inning Game 1 World Series playoff MLB baseball action in Toronto on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Hopton added that he was in the building in the first place thanks to a Rogers customer contest for tickets that he won just one day prior to the game.

Despite the two-run homer from Ohtani, the Blue Jays went on to win Game 1 by a score of 11-4, but eventually lost the World Series to the Dodgers in Game 7.

SCP Auctions says authentication of the ball is provided by SIA Photo Match LLC and that certification will be accompanied by a personal letter of authenticity from Hopton.

At the time of publication, the highest bid on Ohtani’s big time home run ball was US$75,000. It will remain up for auction for 17 more days.

Hopton isn’t the only Jays fan cashing in on the teams blockbuster playoff run.

Michael Angeletti, who caught George Springer’s home run ball in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, sold it for US$26,840 at an auction in December, which netted him roughly $30,000 Canadian, after fees.