Taiwanese buyer behind pricey purchase of “Record-breaking” baseball

Taiwanese buyer behind pricey purchase of “Record-breaking” baseball

2024-10-25

Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani made 50 homeruns this season, being the first professional player to do so. After the game, the record-breaking ball was auctioned off for just under US$4.4 million, or around NT$140 million. It was also the most anyone has paid for a baseball. Many are speculating who the buyer is. For now, it’s only confirmed that the buyer is a Taiwanese businessman.

Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani of Los Angeles’ Dodgers was the first to make 50 homeruns in a season. On Sept. 27, the record-breaking ball was auctioned off for just under US$4.4 million, or around NT$140 million. Many are wondering who the winning bidder is.

Ken Goldin, CEO of the auction company involved, said on Facebook that the person who bid for the ball was from Taiwan. But who was it who paid such a big sum? Goldin kept everyone in suspense. He would only reveal that the person loved baseball and Shohei Ohtani. Everyone needed to wait until after the World Series when the identity of the buyer will be announced.

George Chao
Former CPBL player
If a Taiwanese person won the auction, I think this person must really, really love baseball, and of course this reportedly includes Jensen Huang.

Many in baseball circles speculate the buyer could be Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The reasons being he’s participated in many baseball events, even opening a match for the San Francisco Giants. Other likely winners could be Jeffrey Koo, CEO of CTBC Financial Holding; or a top executive at PX Mart or Ruentex Group. But it’s all speculation until the official reveal.

George Chao
Former CPBL player
If no one in the US National Baseball League breaks Shohei Ohtani’s record, then the ball will steadily go up in value with each passing year.

The 50th homerun ball is the most valuable baseball of all time, and also appears to be a good investment, too.

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大谷翔平50轟球1.4億台幣落槌神秘買家來自台灣

2024-10-25

美國大聯盟道奇球星大谷翔平，轟出第50支全壘打，成為史上第一人，這一顆50轟全壘打球，經過拍賣競標，最終以439萬2000美元、約新台幣1.4億落槌成交，創下史上最貴紀錄，而全球也都在關注，到底誰是買家？現在國際拍賣公司公布了，說是台灣人標走的，而且是一名台灣企業家。

美國大聯盟道奇球星大谷翔平，單季轟出第50支全壘打，成為史上第一人，這一顆全壘打球，9月27日拍賣競標，最終以439萬2000美元，約新台幣1.4億落槌成交，創下史上最貴紀錄球，全球都在問，到底誰是買家？

拍賣公司執行長Ken Goldin在臉書公布答案，標下這顆球的人來自台灣，但到底是誰，這麼大手筆，Goldin賣關子，僅透露，對方很愛棒球和大谷翔平，要等到世界大賽結束後，才會公布身分。

[[棒球名人趙士強]]
“如果是台灣人標到的話，我覺得這個人應該對，棒球非常非常的喜愛，那當然這個當中，也有傳說是這個黃仁勳”

棒球界都在傳聞，豪撒1.4億的台灣神秘買家，是NVIDIA執行長黃仁勳，因為他多次和棒球結盟，甚至還曾為美國大聯盟舊金山巨人隊開球。不過也有網友點名，中信金董事辜仲諒，甚至還有人猜是全聯或潤泰集團，到底是誰？就等拍賣公司給答案。

[[棒球名人趙士強]]
“這個美國大聯盟，沒有人去破這個紀錄的話，我想它(紀念球)，每一年，每一年，它都會這個增值這個幅度，會慢慢一直加上去”

大谷翔平締造傳奇，50轟全壘打球標出史上天價，站在收藏投資的角度，預估未來有不少增值空間。

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At 68, Lu is known as “The Father of Marathon-running.” His personal best clocks in at under 2.5 hours. He founded the Chinese Taipei Road Running Association, which has held more than 600 marathons. But after the stroke, he lost control of his mouth and throat, and was unable to speak; he couldn’t even use the toilet without assistance.

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