‘Book the highest ransom’ billboard vandalized by Otani fetches $9.3 million at auction
Shohei Ohtani’s (Los Angeles Angels) popularity is reflected in his “vandalized billboard.
MLB.com auctioned off a billboard that Ohtani vandalized on Sept. 6. Ohtani hit a foul home run in the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York City on March 27. The 173-kilometer-per-hour shot struck the ribbon board directly, leaving a “black hole” in the field.
The Mets soon sent a playful message to the center field scoreboard that read, “We’re sending you the bill for that, Shohei.
MLB.com has auctioned off Ohtani’s vandalized billboard in its auction section. The starting bid was $260. By the end of the day, 14 bids were received, and the final price was $701 ($9.3 million).
The billboard’s panels measure 25.4 centimeters across and weigh 454 grams.
MLB.com didn’t mention Ohtani at all when it listed the item on its auction site. It simply stated that it was a “broken video panel from Citi Field. However, it sold for a much higher price than any other auction item. This reflects the iconicity and popularity of Ohtani.메이저사이트
Meanwhile, Ohtani’s season ended prematurely with an elbow injury and side pain. Ohtani, who is eligible for free agency after this season, was expected to become the first player in MLB history to receive a contract worth more than $500 million, but his recent injuries will likely reduce his asking price. Ohtani hit .304 with 44 home runs and 95 RBIs this year. On the mound, he went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA.
