The Los Angeles Dodgers made easy work of the New York Yankees in this year's World Series, cruising to victory thanks to the work of stars like Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. Now, part of Freeman's work in helping his team win is in one lucky fan's hands—albeit after coughing up a pretty penny.
According to the MLB, Freeman's game 1 walk-off grand slam ball just sold for a whopping $1.56 million at auction over the weekend. That price tag instantly puts it among the most expensive baseballs ever sold at auction. It outdid Aaron Judge's record-breaking 62nd home run ball, which sold for $1.5 million in December 2022. The ball is now the third most-expensive baseball in history behind Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball that sold for $3 million and Freeman's fellow Dodger Shohei Ohtani's recent record-setting $3.6 million ball.
Related: Rarest Baseball Card Ever Headed for Auction, Where it Could Break a World Record
The family of 10-year-old Zach Ruderman can thank their son for helping score the fortune. When Freeman's ball landed in the stands at Dodger Stadium, he ran and helped secure the ball.
"It was pretty amazing," Zach told MLB Network of the experience. "It was rolling around the ground and I saw it; I knocked it over to my dad and then he picked it up and handed it to me. It was truly the best moment of my life."
Luckily, it wasn't a violent scene, even with fans' knowledge that the ball would likely sell for quite a bit.
"Everybody was great," Zach's father Nico said. "Everybody was just celebrating and jumping around. Everybody wanted to take a picture with Zach. It was just a happy atmosphere out there in right field."
Related: Here's How Much a World Series Ticket Will Cost You
The Dodgers begin spring training against the Chicago Cubs on Feb. 20, 2025.
