Shohei Ohtani made history on Thursdayand Major League Baseball almost immediately launched a collection of commemorative merchandise.
He DodgersThe superstar became the first player in Major League history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season. Now available at the league’s online store: 50-50 T-shirts ($37.99).
And many further:50-50 flags ($47.99), 50-50 water bottles ($34.99); 50-50 vinyl figure sets ($29.99); 50-50 towels ($27.99); 50-50 banners ($15.99), 50-50 pennants ($13.99) and three options of 50-50 silver coins ($99.99).
Ohtani has done More than a fair share of money for the Dodgers —particularly considering the National League’s presumptive most valuable player agreed to a $2 million salary this season—but the team lost out on additional revenue when Ohtani hit his 50th home run during Thursday’s game.
The Dodgers return home on Friday, the start of a six-game homestand.
According to StubHub, Section 304 is the hottest-selling section in the right-field pavilion, the area where an Ohtani home run is most likely to land.
Before Ohtani hit his 50th homer, Section 304 tickets for Saturday’s game on the Dodgers’ website were available for $215.60 each. After Ohtani hit his 50th homer (meaning the historic homer would not be hit at Dodger Stadium), those tickets were available for $185.60. The Dodgers, like many teams, adjust prices based on supply and demand.
Let’s not cry for the Dodgers. The minimum ticket price for Saturday’s game on the Dodgers’ website, as of Thursday afternoon: $111. It is Shohei Ohtani jersey night, after all.
How much could catching that historic home run have been worth? Yahoo polled some sports memorabilia experts and one of them said the historic ball could be worth “more than $200,000.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
