A sports memorabilia auction is never as exciting as the ball game that gave immense value to the auctioned item. But bidding for baseball Freddie Freeman crushed for a grand slam which gave the Dodgers a playoff victory in Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees in October generated its own kind of drama.
The ball was sold for $1.56 million Saturday evening by SCP Auctions, but not after a lively back-and-forth between bidders that extended the auction 2.5 hours beyond the original deadline.
The money goes to the family of 10 year old boy who caught the ball in the right field bleachers at Dodger Stadium amid the delirious celebration after Freeman homered with the bases loaded at the bottom of the 10th inning, and the Dodgers are far from defeat.
The moment will be live forever among the best in Dodgers history, rivaling Kirk Gibson is eerily similar home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. The memory will always be cherished by Zachary Ruderman and his parents, Nico and Anne. This money will change the lives of the Venice family.
Yet it appeared bidding would not reach seven figures as the highest bid was $800,000, with five minutes remaining in the week-long auction. But an $850,000 bid triggered a 30-minute extension, which again counted down to almost zero before a $900,000 bid was entered.
And so on, with each extension expiring almost before the next offer was made, until it reached $1.3 million. The buyer’s premium and fees brought the total to $1.56 million.
“It was crazy,” said David Kohler, president of SCP Auctions. “Sometimes that happens. We are thrilled with the result and honored to handle one of the most important artifacts in World Series history.”
The record auction price for a baseball is $4.392 million, fixed only two months ago for the ball that Shohei Ohtani hit at LoanDepot Park in Miami on September 19 to become the first MLB player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. The previous record of $3.05 million was paid in 1999 for Mark McGwire’s 70th home run from the 1998 season.
How the money from the sale of the Ohtani ball will be distributed is controversial. Max Matus filed a complaint in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court against the man who ended up with the ball, Christian Zacek, fellow judge Kelvin Ramirez and Goldin Auctions, claiming ownership of the ball.
Learn more: Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run sells for a record $4.4 million. Who receives the money?
There is no such controversy surrounding the Freeman ball, which flew directly to Zachary Ruderman, whose stated favorite player is Freeman and who keeps score at the frequent games his family attends.
“Everyone was standing, no one was even sitting,” Zachary told the Times. “I was standing on the bleacher seat so I could see. A second or two after the bat cracked, I realized it was coming directly towards us.
“It was honestly a reaction, an instinct.”
Everyone sitting around him was delirious with joy at the Dodgers’ victory, remaining at the stadium as the team celebrated on the field. Nobody tried to take the ball away from him.
“Hundreds of people were harassing me,” Zachary said. “So many people wanted to take a picture with me and the ball. It was overwhelming.
Early the next morning, Zachary accompanied his mother, Anne, on a business trip. He was wearing a Dodgers cap and T-shirt and a flight attendant asked him if he watched the home run.
“Yeah,” Zachary replied, “I caught it.”
The flight attendant jumped on the plane’s public address system and announced Zachary’s great fortune to the other passengers. He rose from his seat to applause.
Learn more: Plaschke: In such an improbable year, Freddie Freeman becomes Kirk Gibson
The most expensive MLB item ever sold at auction is Babe Ruth’s 1932 World Series jerseywhich sold for $24.12 million in August 2024. The Yankees’ #3 road jersey was worn by Ruth when he hit his legendary “called” home run at Wrigley Field.
The identity of the new owner of the Freeman ball has not been made public. Zachary Ruderman had his moment of fame and – now – fortune, and his family only hopes the ball will be on display for Dodgers fans to enjoy and remember.
“This is a lot more attention than my son has ever received,” Nico Ruderman said. “People recognize it. I mean, everywhere we go people stop him and want to take pictures with him. He really loves it. It was a fun experience for him.
“It would be great if the ball was on display at Dodger Stadium so fans could see this special piece of history.”
This story was originally published in Los Angeles Times.
