5 most expensive home run baseballs ever sold ft. Shohei Ohtani's $4.4 million fetch, Aaron Judge's $1.5 million in 2022
Home run baseballs are some of the most coveted pieces of memorabilia among MLB collectors. While baseball cards have always been a staple for their affordable prices and easy access, home run baseballs give collectors and fans a tangible piece of history.
Depending on the history behind the item or the rarity, the prices can reach astronomical heights. Here's a closer look at the most expensive baseballs ever sold.
A look at the 5 most expensive home run baseballs ever sold
#5 - Barry Bonds, $752,000
Depending on who you ask, Barry Bonds is the home run king. While his connection to steroid usage will forever leave his legacy in question, Bonds has hit more homers than anyone else in MLB history. The former San Francisco Giants slugger has the 5th most expensive baseball ever sold. His record-breaking 756th home run baseball sold for $752,000 at auction.
#4 - Babe Ruth, $805,000
Arguably the greatest baseball player in history, Babe Ruth is 4th on this list. His home run in the 1933 All-Star Game was sold at a MLB FanFest in 2006 for $805,000. It remains to be seen if that number would take another jump if it were to go back on the market today.
#3 - Aaron Judge, $1,500,000
One of the most coveted baseballs in recent history was the record-breaking 62nd bomb from New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge. In 2022, Judge set a new American League single-season home run record, not only etching himself in history but one fan rather wealthy. The ball sold for $1,500,000.
#2 - Mark McGwire, $3,000,000
Like Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire's legacy is one that changed forever after his connections to steroid usage. However, during his heyday, there was no bigger player. In 1998, the St. Louis Cardinals icon hit his 70th longball of the season. Up until recently, it held the record as the most expensive home run baseball as it was sold for a whopping $3,000,000.
#1 - Shohei Ohtani, $4,390,000
There seems to be no record that Shohei Ohtani cannot break. The Japanese superstar became the first player in MLB history to 50-50 club (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season), finishing with 54 and 59 respectively.
Well, Ohtani just took sole possession of the number one spot when it comes to the most expensive home run baseball ever sold. His 50th home run ball was sold for $4,390,000.