LOS ANGELES, Sept 26 — The home run ball that saw Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani become the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in one season is for sale, auction house Goldin said yesterday.

Bidding will start tomorrow at an opening price of US$500,000 (RM2 million), although buyers have a chance to purchase the ball outright for $4.5 million between September 27 and October 9, according to the listing on the Goldin website.

If bidding reaches $3 million before October 9, Goldin will remove the option to purchase it privately, and interested parties must bid for the baseball.

The record price for a baseball is US$3.05 million paid for Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball of 1998.

"This offered baseball is truly a one-of-a-kind specimen, a crowning piece for any game-used memorabilia collection,” the listing says, adding that the ball "exhibits excellent game use, with black scuffing and surface abrasions present throughout the white leather surface.”

Ohtani’s 50th home run of the season came during a spectacular offensive outing for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Marlins in Miami on September 19.

He had six hits in six at bats, including two doubles for a total of five extra-base hits.

He drove in 10 runs, scored four and stole two bases to help the Dodgers clinch a post-season berth that will mark Ohtani’s first trip to the MLB playoffs.

Ohtani had already stolen two bases in the first two innings to take his tally to 51 for the season when he turned up the power at the plate.

He smashed his 49th home run of the season in the sixth inning then established the 50-50 club with his second homer of the game in the seventh -- belting a curveball from Mike Baumann into the left field stands at loanDepot Park.

The fan who caught it reportedly turned down the Dodgers’ offer to purchase it for $300,000 and wasted little time in consigning it with Goldin.

"This was one of the easiest (consignments) ever,” Ken Goldin, founder and chief executive of the auction house, told ESPN. "Ohtani (hits 50) on Thursday, literally Friday we heard from the guy, he contacted Goldin on his own through social media, flew a security guard down to Miami on Monday with a representative from Goldin, met him, flew back Monday.”

So far the consigner has opted to remain anonymous. — AFP