When Shohei Ohtani left the Los Angeles Angels for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the move represented far more than a change of uniform.
It was a shift from individual brilliance without October relevance to the brightest stage baseball has to offer. That transition culminated in a second World Series championship for Ohtani.
But the path there included one of the most remarkable individual postseason performances in modern MLB history and, with it, and a costly decision by a fan caught in the middle of it.
During Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers in October, Ohtani authored a night that will live permanently in postseason lore.
The two-way superstar delivered a performance rarely seen at any level, let alone under playoff pressure.
He pitched six shutout innings, struck out 10 batters, and launched three home runs in a dominant showing that completed a 4-0 sweep and sent the Dodgers to their second straight World Series.
One of those three home runs – his third of the night – landed in the hands of a Dodgers fan named David Flores.
In that instant, Flores became the accidental custodian of a piece of baseball history. What followed, however, transformed that moment into a cautionary tale.
A $2 million offer on the table
According to Dodgers Nation, Flores was quickly inundated with interest from collectors and intermediaries, many of whom recognized the ball’s significance not just as memorabilia, but as a symbol of Ohtani‘s singular dominance on baseball’s biggest stage.
“Shohei Ohtani’s historic Game 4 National League Championship Series home run ball went for sale at the price of $292,800 in December with Goldin Auctions,” Patrick Sandoval of Dodgers Nation reported.
“Los Angeles Dodgers fan David Flores turned down $2 million for the relic, as he was the fan who secured the third and final home run of Ohtani’s historic game.”
The decision to decline those offers would ultimately prove costly. Rather than accepting a private sale, Flores chose to auction the ball publicly, believing its value could climb even higher given Ohtani‘s global appeal and unprecedented postseason feat.
“After the game in late October, Flores was approached by many with dozens of offers; however, he decided to take his chances elsewhere,” he added.
A massive loss on the original offer
Unfortunately, that did not pay off for Flores. Dodgers Nation’s Noel Sanchez added that Flores wanted a bit more for the ball and wanted someone from Japan to own it. It’s unclear who purchased the ball.
Instead of the massive rumored payday, the auction closed at just $292,800, representing a fraction of what was reportedly on the table weeks earlier.
While still a significant sum, the contrast between the rejected $2 million offers and the final sale price underscores how volatile the memorabilia market can be, even for items tied to historic performances.
For Ohtani, the ball is a footnote in a career defined by unprecedented achievements. For Flores, it represents a rare intersection of fandom, history, and financial consequence.
As Ohtani continues to build a legacy that now includes postseason dominance and championship success with the Dodgers, the value of that moment is secure. The lesson attached to it, however, belongs to the fan who let a seven-figure fee slip away.
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